Peptide Chemist

Job Description

About the Opportunity
Radella Pharmaceuticals is looking to appoint an enthusiastic and committed peptide chemist to work on a collaborative project based at the Institute of Medical Sciences in the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen.

You will be part of a multi-disciplinary team comprising basic scientists specialising in heart disease, diabetes and obesity research and work with them to deliver a new therapeutic approach for treating these diseases.

Throughout the project, the appointed candidate will utilise a range of skills and techniques including, peptide design and synthesis, assay development and work side by side with biologists to test these in vitro and in vivo. You will be based at the Institute of Medical Sciences, at the University of Aberdeen medical campus.

This position is ideally suited for an early postdoc position (within 3 years post PhD) or a newly awarded PhD in Chemistry. It is essential that the candidate shows commitment to teamwork and will have a proven track record of 1st author publications, in internationally recognised peer-reviewed journals, from their PhD work (unless project is bound by

confidentiality/IP).

The role is a 12 month contract with high likelihood of continuation pending satisfactory performance. Salary is competitive, and depends on number of years the candidate has been active since PhD.

Role is available for immediate start (highly preferred).

Preferred Candidate Profile
Demonstrates technical proficiency and scientific creativity in peptide synthesis

Synthesise a library of peptides to be tested and identify new sequences and structures based on the results of the in vitro tests.

Demonstrates technical proficiency and scientific creativity in peptide synthesis.

Routinely generates innovative ideas, systematically evaluates pioneering technologies and implements those that add value.

Key Responsibilities
Design of peptides including modifications, bioavailability and efficacy validation.
Synthesis of peptides using both automated peptide synthesisers and manual procedures.
Cleavage of peptides from resin supports.
Analysis by HPLC and mass spectrometry.
Purification via preparative HPLC.
Coordinate the day-to-day laboratory work and experimental setup.
Record accurately all results in a laboratory book and communicate their results at laboratory meetings and to the project funder (monthly reporting to the funder).
Data analysis and project design.
Plan and organise all the investigations in the protocol with various members of the research team to suit research studies’ schedules; plan and similarly organise the follow-ups.

Candidate Background
This position is ideally suited for early career researchers (within 3 years post PhD) or a newly awarded PhD in Chemistry with expertise or experience in organic chemistry and small molecule synthesis. Experience in computational modelling and/or assay development is desirable.

Requirements:
PhD Chemistry
Teamwork oriented
Driven, enthusiastic, entrepreneurial
Excellent record-keeping skills in line with industry standards
Computational modeling (desired)

Terms of Appointment
Salary will be negotiable with placement according to qualifications and experience.
Any appointment will be made subject to satisfactory references.