Senior Research Chemist, Organic Synthesis & Drug Discovery

Placements24; Rustenburg; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Professional development

Relocation assistance

Modern laboratory facilities

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Research Chemist specializing in organic synthesis in Rustenburg, North West. The role centers on designing and optimizing multi-step syntheses for novel drug-like molecules within a collaborative R&D setting.

Ideal candidates hold a PhD in Organic Chemistry with 4+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience, strong analytical skills, and a drive to overcome synthetic challenges across diverse reaction platforms.

Qualifications

• PhD in Organic Chemistry or closely related field.
• Minimum 4 years postdoctoral or industry experience in synthetic organic chemistry.
• Hands-on experience with a wide range of organic reactions and synthetic techniques.
• Proficiency in spectroscopic/analytical methods for compound characterization.
• Strong understanding of reaction mechanisms and retrosynthetic analysis.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute multi-step synthetic routes for novel organic compounds in drug discovery.
• Optimize reaction conditions to improve yield, purity, and efficiency.
• Purify synthesized compounds using chromatographic techniques and crystallization.
• Characterize compounds using NMR, MS, IR, and UV-Vis.
• Troubleshoot synthetic challenges and develop innovative solutions.
• Conduct literature searches for new strategies and methodologies.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists, biologists, and R&D team members.
• Maintain detailed lab notebooks and prepare research reports.
• Present findings at internal meetings and conferences.
• Ensure adherence to lab safety and chemical handling procedures.
• Assist in development/validation of analytical methods.
• Manage laboratory resources and inventory.

Skills

Organic synthesis experience

Problem solving

Independent work

Collaboration

Education

PhD in Organic Chemistry

Tools

NMR

MS

IR

HPLC

UV-Vis

Job description

Placements24 seeks a Senior Research Chemist specializing in organic synthesis in Rustenburg, North West. The role centers on designing and optimizing multi-step syntheses for novel drug-like molecules within a collaborative R&D setting.

Ideal candidates hold a PhD in Organic Chemistry with 4+ years of postdoctoral or industry experience, strong analytical skills, and a drive to overcome synthetic challenges across diverse reaction platforms.