School of Life Sciences

University of Dundee

Medicinal/Organic Chemistry Scientist (x2), UoD-Boehringer Ingelheim PROTAC drug discovery.

Unit: 
Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation
Job Reference: 
SLSC1090
Closing Date: 
Monday, June 27, 2022
Salary: 
£33,309 - £40,927

We are seeking 2x Scientists with research experience in organic synthesis and/or medicinal chemistry to join an industry-academia, multi-disciplinary drug discovery team based in the new Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) within Dundee’s School of Life Sciences.

The team is engaged in a major and expanding collaboration on proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTAC) drug discovery between the laboratories of Professor Alessio Ciulli (http://www.lifesci.dundee.ac.uk/groups/alessio-ciulli) and Boehringer Ingelheim. Our mission is to discover novel small-molecule degraders to treat cancer. The scientist will boost the structure guided medicinal chemistry approaches the team are taking to accelerate translation of research in this field and to develop degrader drug candidates.

This is a unique opportunity to gain experience in world-leading industry-style drug discovery within an academic setting. The posts may also provide opportunities for short work placements at Boehringer Ingelheim’s research site.

The positions are available until 31st December 2023 in the first instance and are available to start immediately.
Your priorities will include:
  • Develop new synthetic routes to access project critical compounds.
  • Critically analyse data to inform your design of new target molecules and solve project challenges.
  • Innovate to generate novel chemistries to enable higher throughput and/or novel chemical space for PROTACs.
  • Contribute to medicinal chemistry strategy within projects and communicate hypotheses and progress to the wider team.
  • Develop team science across the collaboration, working with colleagues across disciplines to enable breakthroughs.
    Candidate Requirements:
    • A minimum of a Ph.D. or Masters with relevant experience in industry in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or a related discipline is required.
    • Outstanding academic or industrial track record.
    • Strong interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.
    • High level of expertise in synthetic organic chemistry and synthetic route design.
    • A demonstrated ability to problem-solve within a team environment.

    Desirable Skills:

    • A track record of applying sound medicinal chemistry principles to optimize lead compounds.
    • Experience applying structure-based drug design approaches.
    Appointment on the Grade 7 salary scale is dependent upon you having been awarded a PhD. An appointment may be considered if you are shortly expected to be awarded a PhD. In this case the initial appointment would be made as a Research Assistant on the Training Grade 7 salary scale (Spinal Point 25 – 28).

     
    Commitment to DORA

    The School of Life Sciences has been fully committed to the principals of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2013. In assessing applicants, we consider the scientific quality of their published research papers, but do not take into account where the papers were published and do not consider journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors.
    Additional Information:

    Informal enquiries may be made to Professor Alessio Ciulli, e-mail: a.ciulli@dundee.ac.uk

    About the Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD)

    Within the University of Dundee, the newly announced Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD) due to open in mid 2022 is being created as a first of its kind Centre leading a number of internationally significant projects. The goal of CeTPD is to innovate the next-generation of small-molecule platforms and modalities to advance chemical and biological insights and therapeutic targets related to human diseases. It aspires to achieve this by openly collaborating with academic, industrial and venture partners, and by inspiring the next-generation of research scientists and leaders.

    The University of Dundee main city-centre campus is at the heart of Dundee - an up-and-coming, friendly, compact and affordable city.

    Family friendly policies, staff support networks for BME and LGBT staff, membership of Athena Swan and Stonewall, as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.

    Click here to apply for this job