Senior Computational Chemist - Drug Discovery

Placements24; Randburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900.000 - 1.500.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Competitive salary package

Professional development

Access to HPC and software

Leave allowance

Zusammenfassung

Placements24 seeks a Senior Computational Chemist to join a Randburg-based drug discovery team. You will drive in silico methods for molecular modeling, virtual screening and structure-based drug design to accelerate lead optimisation.

The role requires a PhD with 5+ years of relevant experience, proficiency in Schrodinger/MOE/AMBER/GROMACS/Gaussian, and strong Python scripting. Collaboration with chemists and biologists is essential in a hybrid Randburg environment.

Qualifikationen

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, Physical Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in computational drug discovery.
• Proficiency with leading computational chemistry packages and scripting for automation.
• Strong modeling, quantum chemistry and statistical analysis skills.

Aufgaben

• Apply docking, MD, QM/MM and QSAR to support drug discovery projects.
• Develop predictive models for activity, selectivity and PK properties.
• Perform virtual screening of large libraries to identify leads.
• Interpret results and provide actionable insights to medicinal chemists.
• Collaborate with experimental teams to integrate findings into workflows.
• Maintain cheminformatics databases and tools with robust documentation.
• Stay current with advances in computational chemistry and bioinformatics.
• Contribute to design of novel molecules with therapeutic potential.
• Present findings at internal meetings and conferences.
• Ensure high-quality work in a hybrid Randburg research setting.

Kenntnisse

Molecular modeling

Python scripting

QSAR

Virtual screening

Structure-based design

Team collaboration

Ausbildung

Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry

Tools

Schrodinger

MOE

AMBER

GROMACS

Gaussian

Jobbeschreibung

About the Role

Our client, a leading pharmaceutical research company, is seeking a highly skilled Senior Computational Chemist to join their drug discovery team in Randburg, Gauteng. This role is pivotal in accelerating the identification and optimization of novel drug candidates through the application of advanced computational chemistry techniques. You will be responsible for developing and implementing in silico methods for molecular modeling, virtual screening, structure-based drug design, and cheminformatics analysis. The position requires a strong understanding of molecular mechanics, quantum mechanics, statistical thermodynamics, and their application to biological systems. You will work closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to guide experimental efforts and make critical design decisions. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to life-saving therapies within a dynamic research environment located in Randburg, playing a key role in the pharmaceutical innovation landscape of South Africa.

Key Responsibilities

• Apply computational chemistry methods (e.g., molecular docking, molecular dynamics, QM/MM, QSAR) to support drug discovery projects.
• Develop and validate predictive models for compound activity, selectivity, and pharmacokinetic properties.
• Perform virtual screening of large compound libraries to identify potential drug leads.
• Analyze and interpret computational results to provide actionable insights for medicinal chemists.
• Collaborate effectively with experimental teams to integrate computational findings into the drug discovery workflow.
• Maintain and develop cheminformatics databases and analysis tools.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements in computational chemistry and bioinformatics relevant to drug discovery.
• Contribute to the design of novel molecules with desired therapeutic properties.
• Present research findings at internal meetings and potentially external scientific conferences.
• Ensure high-quality computational work and robust documentation in Gauteng.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry, Cheminformatics, Physical Chemistry, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of post-doctoral or industry experience focused on computational drug discovery.
• Proficiency in using computational chemistry software packages (e.g., Schrodinger, MOE, AMBER, GROMACS, Gaussian).
• Strong programming skills (e.g., Python) and experience with scripting for automation.
• Solid understanding of molecular modeling techniques, quantum chemistry calculations, and statistical analysis.
• Experience with QSAR, virtual screening, and structure-based drug design.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple projects in a hybrid research setting.
• Familiarity with biological target classes and drug discovery processes.

Benefits

• Competitive salary package with annual performance reviews.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and retirement benefits.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference participation.
• Access to high-performance computing clusters and cutting-edge software.
• Engaging work on diverse drug discovery projects aimed at unmet medical needs.
• A collaborative and intellectually stimulating research environment in Randburg.
• Potential for career progression into leadership roles.
• Generous annual leave allowance.