Senior Laboratory Research Scientist Pharmacologist

Salary for this Role:

SLRS from £45,700 with benefits, subject to skills and experience

PLRS from £55,550 with benefits, subject to skills and experience

Senior Laboratory Research Scientist Pharmacologist

Peter Craggs

31/Dec/ GMT

Reports to:

Pharmacology Expert, PLRS, Chemical Biology STP

Both roles are full-time fixed term positions on Crick terms and conditions of employment

The Francis Crick Institute is Europe’s largest biomedical research institute under one roof. Our world‑class scientists and staff collaborate on vital research to help prevent, diagnose and treat illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, infectious diseases and neurodegenerative conditions.

The Crick is a place for collaboration, innovation and exploration across many disciplines. A space where the brightest minds can pursue big and bold ideas and discover answers to crucial scientific questions. We support them in a dynamic environment which fosters excellence with state‑of‑the‑art infrastructure, cutting‑edge facilities, and a creative and curious culture. We’ve removed traditional boundaries of departments, divisions and disciplines and instead have an open approach that supports every researcher.

This gives us the freedom to take risks and carry out high‑quality, pioneering research. Creating a space for discovery without boundaries helps us to turn our science into benefits for human health and the economy.

We are looking for two Senior Laboratory Research Scientists to join the Chemical Biology Science Technology Platform at the Crick. The Chemical Biology STP collaborates with researchers at the Crick to apply chemistry to explore biological questions, working at the cutting edge of biomedical science in disciplines such as cancer, infectious disease, immunology, neurology, and developmental biology.

We are seeking a creative and driven molecular pharmacologist, with expertise in a range of in vitro assays technologies and their application in early drug discovery projects. As an SLRS, you will contribute to establishing state‑of‑the‑art screening approaches for the identification and optimisation of chemical modulators of protein targets. Furthermore, the role will require in‑depth knowledge of approaches to link the mechanism of probes or drugs to the treatment of disease.

This role presents the opportunity to build on the capabilities being built in the Chemical Biology STP, in collaboration with Screening and Automated Science and Structural Biology STPs, to influence translational science at the Crick. This will be prosecuted through lab‑based contributions as pharmacology/assay lead on early drug discovery teams, as well as the provision of pharmacology and drug discovery consultancy on nascent translational projects.

Some of your key responsibilities will include:

• Close collaboration with colleagues in aligned STPs (including SAS, Structural Biology, Proteomics, NMR) to continue to establish state‑of‑the‑art cross‑STP screening approaches for hit identification, validation and optimisation against novel targets.
• Proactive suggestions of suitable assay technologies that enable the selection of potential probes and therapeutics.
• Application of these approaches to Crick translational projects, advising on screening strategy for new targets and supporting the development of assays for compound screening.
• Contribution to interdisciplinary drug discovery teams as a molecular pharmacologist, taking accountability for the development of complex biological assays and the elucidation of mechanism of action.
• Scientific leadership as an assay area expert; staying abreast of the latest literature and developments in the field; and driving technology projects that optimise/modernise the current drug discovery process.

This position may be appointed at a Principal Senior Laboratory Research Scientist level, for applicants who demonstrate the skills and substantial relevant experience.

We are also recruiting for an ambitious and creative biochemical assay scientist, with drug discovery…