Senior Computational Chemist - Drug Design

Placements24; Benoni; Vor Ort; ZAR 900.000 - 1.300.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development opportunities

Bonuses and incentives

Zusammenfassung

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Computational Chemist to join its drug design team in Benoni, Gauteng. You will guide molecule design, optimize leads, and explore chemical space using QSAR and modern cheminformatics. Collaboration with chemists and biologists is essential to accelerate discovery.

The role emphasizes molecular modeling, QSAR, and software competencies, with mentorship of junior team members and contributions to reports and patents.

Qualifikationen

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Cheminformatics, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant industry experience in computational chemistry applied to drug discovery.
• Proficiency in molecular modeling software and cheminformatics toolkits.
• Strong understanding of organic/medicinal chemistry and drug discovery processes.
• Experience with QSAR modeling, virtual screening, and lead optimization.
• Proficiency in Python for scripting and data analysis.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Aufgaben

• Utilize computational chemistry methods to support drug discovery programs.
• Design novel chemical entities with optimal pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists to interpret SAR and guide iterative design cycles.
• Develop and apply virtual screening strategies to identify hit compounds.
• Integrate cheminformatics tools and databases into drug design workflows.
• Analyze and interpret computational and experimental data to provide insights.
• Stay updated on advancements in computational chemistry and drug design.
• Contribute to research reports, publications, and patents.
• Mentor junior computational chemists and research associates in Benoni.

Kenntnisse

Python scripting

Data analysis

Analytical thinking

Communication

Ausbildung

PhD in Computational Chemistry

Tools

Schrödinger Suite

MOE

Sybyl

RDKit

Jobbeschreibung

About the Role

Our client, a renowned pharmaceutical research company, is seeking a Senior Computational Chemist to join their innovative drug design team based in Benoni, Gauteng . This role is pivotal in employing advanced computational techniques to guide and accelerate the discovery of novel drug candidates. You will work closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to design molecules with desired properties, optimize lead compounds, and explore chemical space effectively. The ideal candidate will possess a strong background in computational chemistry, a deep understanding of molecular modeling, quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR), and cheminformatics. This position offers a fantastic opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge drug discovery projects and significantly impact the development of new therapies. Join our collaborative team in Benoni and be part of a mission to improve human health through innovative science and meticulous research, working from our dedicated research facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Utilize computational chemistry methods, including molecular modeling, docking, molecular dynamics, and QSAR, to support drug discovery programs.
• Design novel chemical entities with optimal pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists to interpret structure-activity relationships and guide iterative design cycles.
• Develop and apply virtual screening strategies to identify promising hit compounds from large chemical libraries.
• Integrate cheminformatics tools and databases into drug design workflows.
• Analyze and interpret complex computational and experimental data to provide actionable insights.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in computational chemistry and drug design methodologies.
• Contribute to the preparation of research reports, publications, and patent applications.
• Mentor junior computational chemists and research associates working on drug design projects in Benoni .

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Cheminformatics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant industry experience in computational chemistry applied to drug discovery.
• Proficiency in molecular modeling software (e.g., Schrödinger Suite, MOE, Sybyl) and cheminformatics toolkits (e.g., RDKit).
• Strong understanding of organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry principles, and drug discovery processes.
• Experience with QSAR modeling, virtual screening, and lead optimization techniques.
• Proficiency in programming languages such as Python for scripting and data analysis.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary team environment.
• Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) environments is highly beneficial for this role in Benoni .

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary package, with potential earnings up to ZAR.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching.
• Opportunities for professional development, attending scientific conferences, and further training.
• Access to advanced computational resources and cutting-edge drug discovery technologies.
• A stimulating and collaborative work environment dedicated to scientific advancement.
• Generous paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
• Performance-based bonuses and incentives.
• Proximity to key research institutions in the Benoni area.