Senior Research Scientist - Pharmaceutical Discovery

Placements24; Klerksdorp; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a Senior Research Scientist to join its Pharmaceutical Discovery team in a fully remote arrangement. You will lead target validation efforts, design advanced assays, and oversee HTS campaigns from a distributed slate of collaborators.

The role emphasizes high-impact, early-stage drug discovery with cross-functional teamwork. The ideal candidate holds a PhD with 6+ years in pharma R&D, and demonstrates strong communication and problem-solving abilities to thrive in a

Qualifications

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related life science discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in pharmaceutical R&D, specifically in drug discovery.
• Proven expertise in assay development, target validation, and small molecule drug discovery.
• Hands-on experience with cell-based assays, biochemical assays, and primary cell culture.
• Strong understanding of disease biology and mechanism of action studies.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills suitable for a remote work environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and execute complex biological assays to identify and validate potential drug targets.
• Develop and optimize screening assays for high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns.
• Analyze and interpret complex biological data, providing insights and recommendations for project direction.
• Collaborate effectively with medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and other cross-functional team members.
• Manage research projects, set timelines, and ensure the timely delivery of key milestones.
• Contribute to the preparation of research reports, scientific publications, and patent applications.

Skills

Assay development

Target validation

Small molecule discovery

Cell-based assays

Biochemical assays

Primary cell culture

Communication skills

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

PhD in Molecular Biology/Pharmacology/Biochemistry

Tools

HTS workflows

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a dynamic and experienced Senior Research Scientist to join their Pharmaceutical Discovery team, operating remotely. This is a critical role focused on identifying and validating novel therapeutic targets and developing innovative drug candidates. You will lead research projects, design and execute experiments, and collaborate with a talented, geographically distributed team of scientists. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to life-saving medicines from a remote setting, leveraging cutting-edge technologies and a collaborative, virtual-first work environment. You will have the autonomy to drive significant progress in early-stage drug discovery.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and execute complex biological assays to identify and validate potential drug targets.
• Develop and optimize screening assays for high-throughput screening (HTS) campaigns.
• Analyze and interpret complex biological data, providing insights and recommendations for project direction.
• Collaborate effectively with medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, and other cross-functional team members.
• Manage research projects, set timelines, and ensure the timely delivery of key milestones.
• Contribute to the preparation of research reports, scientific publications, and patent applications.

Requirements

• PhD in Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, or a related life science discipline.
• Minimum of 6 years of post-doctoral or industry experience in pharmaceutical R&D, specifically in drug discovery.
• Proven expertise in assay development, target validation, and small molecule drug discovery.
• Hands-on experience with cell-based assays, biochemical assays, and primary cell culture.
• Strong understanding of disease biology and mechanism of action studies.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills suitable for a remote work environment.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and performance-based incentive programs.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Significant professional development opportunities, including virtual training and conference access.
• Flexibility of a fully remote work arrangement, enabling work from anywhere.
• Opportunity to work on groundbreaking research in a collaborative and innovative culture.