Senior Scientist - Structural Biology

Placements24; Polokwane; Presencial; ZAR 1.200.000 - 1.900.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

Competitive salary

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Paid time off and holidays

Professional development and attending

State-of-the-art facilities

Descripción de la vacante

Placements24 in Polokwane, Limpopo, is seeking a Senior Scientist specialized in Structural Biology to determine 3D structures of biomolecules, supporting rational drug design. You will use X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and NMR to advance drug discovery programs.

The role requires a PhD and 5+ years in the field, with a proven track record in protein structure determination and collaboration with medicinal chemistry teams. Polokwane-based research facilities offer a collaborative environment.

Formación

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related field.
• 5+ years hands-on experience in protein crystallography or cryo-EM.
• Proven track record determining structures of complex protein targets.
• Experience with structure determination software (Phenix, CCP4, Chimera) and model refinement.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.

Responsabilidades

• Lead projects to determine structures of protein targets and therapeutic molecules using X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM.
• Express, purify, and characterize proteins for structural studies.
• Optimize crystallization conditions and data collection strategies for challenging targets.
• Process and refine structural data, interpret electron density maps, and build models.
• Collaborate with chemists to integrate structural insights into drug design.
• Stay current with advances in structural biology techniques and instrumentation.
• Mentor junior scientists and present findings at meetings and conferences.

Conocimientos

Structural biology

Protein crystallography

Cryo-EM

NMR spectroscopy

Protein expression

Protein purification

Phenix

CCP4

Chimera

Educación

PhD in Structural Biology

Herramientas

Phenix

CCP4

Chimera

Descripción del empleo

About the Role Our client, a cutting-edge biopharmaceutical research organization, is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist with a specialization in Structural Biology to join their dedicated team in Polokwane, Limpopo. This pivotal role focuses on elucidating the three-dimensional structures of biological macromolecules, providing critical insights into their function and enabling rational drug design. You will be responsible for employing advanced techniques such as X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), and NMR spectroscopy. The ideal candidate will possess a strong foundation in biochemistry and biophysics, coupled with a proven track record of successfully determining protein structures and contributing to drug discovery programs. Join our collaborative team in Polokwane and contribute to the development of novel therapeutics.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and execute projects focused on the structural determination of protein targets and therapeutic molecules using X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM.
• Perform protein expression, purification, and characterization for structural studies.
• Optimize crystallization conditions and data collection strategies for challenging protein targets.
• Process and refine structural data, interpret electron density maps, and build atomic models.
• Collaborate with computational chemists and medicinal chemists to integrate structural information into drug design efforts.
• Stay current with advancements in structural biology techniques and instrumentation.
• Mentor junior scientists and technicians involved in structural biology projects.
• Present findings at internal meetings and external scientific conferences.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of hands‑on experience in structural biology, with a focus on protein crystallography and/or cryo-EM.
• Demonstrated success in determining the structures of complex protein targets.
• Proficiency in protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization techniques.
• Experience with structure determination software (e.g., Phenix, CCP4, Chimera) and model refinement.
• Strong understanding of protein chemistry and molecular interactions.
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a team‑oriented research environment located in Polokwane, Limpopo.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of ZAR.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits.
• Generous paid time off and holiday schedule.
• Opportunities for professional development and attending scientific conferences.
• Access to state-of-the-art structural biology facilities and instrumentation.
• A stimulating and collaborative research environment in Polokwane.
• Retirement savings plan with employer matching.