Senior Structural Biologist - Drug Design

Placements24; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance-based bonuses

Medical and retirement benefits

Paid time off

Professional development

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Senior Structural Biologist to lead structure-based drug design within a dynamic biopharma drug discovery team in Soweto, Gauteng. You will elucidate target and ligand structures using X-ray, cryo-EM, or NMR, guiding medicinal chemistry with high-impact insights.

You will mentor scientists, develop new methodologies, and present results at meetings and conferences in a multidisciplinary setting. Must be eligible to work in South Africa.

Qualifications

• PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related field.
• 5–7 years post-doctoral experience in drug discovery.
• Expertise in structure determination techniques (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or NMR).
• Proficiency in protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization.
• Experience with structure-based drug design and protein–ligand interactions.
• Strong communication and collaborative skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead structure-based drug design projects from target selection to lead optimization.
• Determine high-resolution structures of target proteins and complexes.
• Express, purify, and characterize proteins for structural analysis.
• Interpret data to guide design of potent, selective inhibitors.
• Collaborate with chemists and biologists to integrate insights.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to scientific direction.

Skills

X-ray crystallography

cryo-EM

NMR spectroscopy

Protein expression

Protein purification

Biophysical characterization

Structure-based drug design

Data interpretation

Scientific communication

Education

PhD in Structural Biology or related field

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a dynamic and innovative biopharmaceutical company, is seeking a highly accomplished Senior Structural Biologist to join their drug discovery team in **Soweto, Gauteng**. This pivotal role will focus on elucidating the three-dimensional structures of therapeutic targets and drug candidates using advanced biophysical and structural biology techniques. You will play a key role in guiding medicinal chemistry efforts, providing critical structural insights to facilitate the design of novel therapeutics. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of new medicines in a collaborative and cutting-edge research environment located in **Soweto, Gauteng**. The ideal candidate will possess extensive expertise in X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or NMR spectroscopy, coupled with a deep understanding of protein structure-function relationships and drug design principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead structure-based drug design projects, from target selection to lead optimization.
• Determine the high-resolution structures of target proteins and protein-ligand complexes using X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or NMR spectroscopy.
• Express, purify, and characterize proteins and other biological macromolecules suitable for structural analysis.
• Analyze and interpret structural data to guide the design of potent and selective small molecule inhibitors or modulators.
• Collaborate closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and pharmacologists to integrate structural insights into the drug discovery pipeline.
• Troubleshoot challenging structural biology projects and develop innovative solutions.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of new structural biology technologies and methodologies.
• Present research findings at internal project meetings and external scientific conferences.
• Mentor junior scientists and contribute to the overall scientific direction of the drug discovery group.
• Ensure timely completion of projects and accurate reporting of results from **Soweto, Gauteng**.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5-7 years of post-doctoral research experience in an academic or industrial drug discovery setting.
• Demonstrated expertise in structure determination techniques (X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, or NMR).
• Proficiency in protein expression, purification, and biophysical characterization.
• Experience with structure-based drug design principles and practices.
• Strong understanding of protein structure-function relationships and molecular interactions.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and data interpretation skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex data effectively.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team environment.
• Must be eligible to work in **South Africa**.

Benefits

• Our client offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with performance-based bonuses and opportunities for career advancement.
• Comprehensive medical and retirement benefits are provided, as well as generous paid time off.
• Professional development is a priority, with support for attending scientific conferences, workshops, and pursuing further training.
• Employees in **Soweto, Gauteng** benefit from working with advanced structural biology instrumentation and a collaborative team culture dedicated to scientific excellence.
• Our client is committed to fostering a positive work environment and invests in the growth and development of its employees.