Research Scientist Senior Scientist Protein Engineering

CK Group are working in partnership with Nxera Pharma to recruit a Research Scientist/Senior Scientist, to join the Protein Engineering group based at Granta Park, Cambridge, UK.


Location:

Granta Park, Cambridge.


About the company:

Nxera Pharma (formerly Sosei Heptares) is a technology powered biopharma company, in pursuit of new speciality medicines to improve the lives of patients with unmet needs globally. Their pipeline is focused on addressing major unmet needs in some of the fastest-growing areas of medicine across CNS, GI and immunology, metabolic disorders and rare diseases, and leverages the power of their unique and industry leading GPCR-targeted structure-based drug discovery NxWave platform to provide a sustainable source of best- or first-in-class candidates.

In Cambridge UK, Nxera have built outstanding capabilities across their platform, discovery and translational medicine teams, to advance multiple programs from pre-clinical through to early clinical development.


About the role:

We are seeking an experienced molecular biologist to join the Protein Engineering group at our research facility on Granta Park, Cambridge, UK, working on facilitating GPCR structure determination to enable drug discovery efforts. This is an exceptional opportunity to participate in pioneering science with an Industry-leading Drug Discovery company. The grade offered will be commensurate on the skills and experience of the candidate.


Responsibilities will include:

• Construct engineering to facilitate the expression of wild-type and mutant GPCRs in cells.
• Characterisation of GPCRs in cells, membranes and in detergent-solubilised form, using ligand binding and signalling assays.
• Establishing and optimising thermal stability assays.
• Development of novel technologies for accelerating structure determination of GPCRs.
• Working closely with a diverse group of scientists across the Platform division and the broader drug discovery organisation to advance projects.

Skills and Experience:

• A PhD (or a Masters, plus at least 3 years of laboratory experience) in a relevant area of molecular biology/biochemistry.
• Expertise in a variety of cloning techniques.
• Proficiency in cell culture.
• Substantial experience in assay development and optimisation.
• Experience of carrying out GPCR ligand binding and signalling assays.
• Previously worked with detergent-solubilised GPCRs or other membrane proteins.
• A strong understanding of membrane protein structure and function.
• The ability to work flexibly within a team, whilst being highly self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Analytical thinking and good problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organisational, communication and time-management skills, including the ability to work to deadlines.

What s in it for you?

• State-of-the-art R&D centre located in the heart of the Cambridge science cluster.
• Competitive compensation package including discretionary cash bonuses.
• Eligible for grants of Restricted Stock Units.
• 25 days annual leave in addition to public holidays plus the option to purchase an additional 5 days each year.
• Employer contribution to pension.
• Private Medical Insurance for employees and family and a cash plan for dental and optical reimbursement.
• Health and wellbeing benefits including a subsidised individual gym membership.
• Income protection to cover long term absences due to ill health.
• Group Death in Service equal to 4x basic annual salary.

Apply:

It is essential that applicants hold entitlement to work in the UK. Please quote job reference 105827 in all correspondence.