Senior Cheminformatics Scientist - Drug Design

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 1,000,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health, dental, vision insurance

Retirement savings plan

Performance-based bonuses

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Cheminformatics Scientist for its client in Soweto, Gauteng. You will leverage computational approaches to design and optimize drug candidates, work with large chemical datasets, and collaborate with medicinal chemists to guide the drug discovery process.

Ideal candidates have a PhD or MS in a related field, 5+ years in cheminformatics, strong Python skills with RDKit, and a track record in QSAR modeling and data management.

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or Master’s degree in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant industry experience in cheminformatics, with a focus on drug discovery.
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry principles and structure-activity relationships.
• Proficiency in Python with cheminformatics libraries (e.g., RDKit).
• Experience with chemical database management and data mining techniques.
• Knowledge of molecular modeling and simulation techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Proven ability to manage projects and deliver results in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational methods for analyzing chemical structures, properties, and activities.
• Design and implement QSAR models and other predictive models to guide lead optimization and compound design.
• Manage and curate large chemical databases, including compound libraries and screening data.
• Integrate cheminformatics approaches with other computational methods (e.g., molecular modeling, bioinformatics) to support drug discovery programs.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, computational biologists, and other research scientists to identify and prioritize drug targets and design novel chemical matter.
• Utilize cheminformatics software and toolkits (e.g., RDKit, Schrödinger, MOE) effectively.
• Develop novel algorithms and workflows to address specific challenges in drug discovery.
• Contribute to scientific publications and presentations.
• Stay current with advancements in cheminformatics, computational chemistry, and drug discovery technologies.
• Provide training and support to other researchers on cheminformatics tools and methodologies.

Skills

Python

Cheminformatics

RDKit

QSAR

Education

Ph.D. or M.S. in Cheminformatics/Computational Chemistry/CS

Tools

Schrodinger

MOE

RDKit

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and rapidly growing pharmaceutical company focused on innovative drug discovery, is seeking a talented Senior Cheminformatics Scientist to join their interdisciplinary team in Soweto, Gauteng . This role is pivotal in leveraging computational approaches to design and optimize novel drug candidates. You will work with large chemical and biological datasets, develop predictive models for compound activity and properties, and collaborate closely with medicinal chemists to guide the drug design process. This position offers a stimulating environment with access to advanced computational tools and the opportunity to make significant contributions to the development of new medicines. The ideal candidate possesses a strong foundation in chemistry and computer science, with a proven track record in cheminformatics applications.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational methods for analyzing chemical structures, properties, and biological activities.
• Design and implement QSAR (Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship) models and other predictive models to guide lead optimization and compound design.
• Manage and curate large chemical databases, including compound libraries and screening data.
• Integrate cheminformatics approaches with other computational methods (e.g., molecular modeling, bioinformatics) to support drug discovery programs.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, computational biologists, and other research scientists to identify and prioritize drug targets and design novel chemical matter.
• Utilize cheminformatics software and toolkits (e.g., RDKit, Schrodinger, MOE) effectively.
• Develop novel algorithms and workflows to address specific challenges in drug discovery.
• Contribute to scientific publications and presentations.
• Stay current with advancements in cheminformatics, computational chemistry, and drug discovery technologies.
• Provide training and support to other researchers on cheminformatics tools and methodologies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or Master's degree in Cheminformatics, Computational Chemistry, Computer Science, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant industry experience in cheminformatics, with a focus on drug discovery.
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry principles and structure-activity relationships.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python, with experience in cheminformatics libraries (e.g., RDKit).
• Experience with chemical database management and data mining techniques.
• Knowledge of various molecular modeling and simulation techniques.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Proven ability to manage projects and deliver results in a timely manner.

Benefits

Our client offers a competitive salary, comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings plan, and opportunities for performance-based bonuses. We are committed to fostering professional growth through continuous learning, access to advanced computational resources, and support for attending scientific conferences. This role is based in Soweto, Gauteng , within an exciting and collaborative research environment. Join a company that is at the forefront of drug discovery and contribute to creating transformative medicines for patients in need.