We are a world-class, research-intensive university. We provide teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in the economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-caliber people is fundamental to our continued success.

salary
Research assistant: £33,002 to £34,610 per year.
Research associate: £35,608 to £36,636 per year.

The role
An exciting opportunity to develop cutting-edge methods in medicinal chemistry applied to anti-cancer drug discovery within a thriving, multi-disciplinary academic drug discovery group. You will work as a researcher on a medicinal chemistry team that will apply organic chemistry to discover new cancer treatments.

The project will involve applying DNA-encoded technology to discover and optimize lead compounds for new cancer targets. This will include the design and synthesis of DNA-encoded compounds, selection against target proteins and recombination of active compounds outside of DNA.

The project is part of Cancer Research UK’s Newcastle Drug Discovery Program and a partnership with Cancer Research Horizons and Astex Pharmaceuticals. It is ideally suited to candidates with a background in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or chemical biology, especially those with an ambition to pursue a future career in drug discovery.

This post is for a fixed term until 25 October 2027 with the possibility of extension.

For informal inquiries contact Professor Mike Waring on mike.waring@ncl.ac.uk.

Learn more about the College of Medical Sciences here: https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/.

Learn more about our research institutes here:
https://www.ncl.ac.uk/medical-sciences/research/institutes/.

As part of our commitment to the career development of research fellows, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles firstly define the general competencies and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level, and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed to enter a particular level.

Key responsibilities

• Design and synthesis of compounds for biological testing, including DNA-encoded compounds.
• Work closely with the project team to integrate the work into the drug discovery workflow.
• Close communication with industrial collaborators.
• Although working under the overall direction of an academic or principal investigator, the post holder will contribute ideas, including improvements to technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing significant ‘added value’.
• Develop and implement the assigned project using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in personal requirements.
• Identify appropriate methodologies for research, providing advice and support where required.
• Contribute to grant applications from others and timely develop own research objectives and funding proposals.
• Evaluate research findings for need/scope for further investigations.
• Contribute to writing up their research for publication and dissemination, whether through presentations at seminars and conferences or through publications.
• Presenting research results, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the specialty.
• May be involved in supervising final-year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or research assistants.
• He will need to work with support staff, undergraduate and postgraduate students and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute.