Lead Scientist - Cell and Molecular Biology

Based at Alderley Park, Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national facility connecting the UK community to accelerate innovative drug discovery. By validating new ways of discovering medicines and driving key talent and expertise across the sector, we will support the UK life sciences industry, SMEs and innovators to deliver growth for the UK economy and maintain the UKs heritage position as a global leader in medicines RD. Ultimately, new industrialised technologies are vital for delivering new medicines to patients, faster.

We are looking for the very best people to join the Medicines Discovery Catapult team in driving the UK to the forefront of commercial success for medicines discovery, committing to place the patient at the beginning of discovery and helping the sector move faster to the patient.

The values of the Catapult are:

• Excellence we continually strive to deliver the best solutions for our partners and for each other. In everything we do, we instil confidence.
• Integrity Our strong commitment to what we do and why we are here drives us to do the right thing for our partners and each other.
• Community Were a strong team, we work well together, and we respect each other.
• Innovation - Were driven by the need to make a difference. We constantly look for ways to drive change in our sector and how we work.
  
  

Role purpose

The role of the Lead Scientist Cell and Molecular Biology will provide scientific and project leadership in this discipline to deliver collaborative projects and build new capabilities via innovation and integration of the latest technologies. Furthermore the successful individual will have expertise in complex medicines and understand the challenges associated with developing these therapies towards the clinic. They will use this experience to work alongside other areas of MDC and external collaborators developing methodologies in this area.

This role would suit a highly motivated self-starter who is passionate about better translation of preclinical evaluation of therapeutics to the clinic, to improve patient outcomes. Leading an interdisciplinary team, the successful candidate will apply their expertise in cell and molecular biology, together with understanding of novel therapeutic strategies and complex medicines to deliver impactful results, characterising cellular target engagement and target validation studies and prosecuting therapeutic efficacy assays in vitro.

Furthermore, the candidate will have a good understanding of translational research and be passionate about building better translational assays for novel therapeutics and complex medicines. The Lead Scientist will also be responsible for driving innovation, ensuring that MDC is aware of new developments in the field and will work with other groups within the MDC such as Translational Imaging and Biomarkers to co-ordinate MDC activities as well as engaging with the external community to bring projects into the MDC.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

• Lead a team of scientists with effective line management and matrix management of projects delivered by more than one MDC platform
• Lead collaborative projects to completion and deliver high quality data in a complex and time pressured research team environment, likely involving co-ordination of multiple internal and/or external resources
• Establish and lead collaborations to develop solutions in drug discovery programmes
• Lead the development of human cell assays for the evaluation of a wide range of small molecule, large molecule and novel therapeutics
• Establish and validate experimental endpoints for medicine evaluation to industry standards
• Design and deliver strategies to evaluate phenotypic responses of multiple cell populations and complex cell models and tissue samples including the assessment of therapeutic efficacy
• Act as the in vitro technical expert for complex medicine evaluation, providing insights to allow the application of MDC technologies in assays within the Catapult
• Work in partnership with Medicines Discovery Catapult scientists in the fields of complex cell models, preclinical imaging, target engagement and target validation, in vitro and in vivo to deliver end-to-end workflows that can be applied to collaborative projects
• Apply expertise to support the delivery of a collaborative project focussed on mechanistic understanding of an advanced lead molecule
• Deliver high quality data in a complex and time pressured research team environment
• Contribute drug discovery knowledge, scientific insight and innovative technical approaches for more successful drug discovery programmes
• Effective communication and research collaboration skills, working with a wide range of colleagues in range of academic and commercial organisations
• Contribute scientific insight and innovative technical approaches for more successful drug discovery programmes
  
  

Qualifications And Experience

• The successful candidates will possess a PhD in cell or molecular biology, or relevant area, with substantial relevant postdoctoral experience in therapeutic characterisation
• Experience of working in drug discovery, and developing in vitro assays ideally in an industry setting
• Extensive experience in molecular engineering of cells including lentiviral transduction, CRISPR techniques and molecular analysis technologies
• Extensive experience in culture of mammalian cells including background of working with primary cells and iPSC derivatives and analysis of phenotypic responses
• Experience in novel therapeutic approaches, for example with particular expertise in lipid nanoparticles, cancer vaccines, ADCs or other complex medicines
• Proven expertise and good publication record in cell and molecular biology
• Experience in flow cytometry, microscopy techniques and molecular analysis would be an advantage
• Experience in line management and leadership of a team of scientists
• Proven track record of leading and delivering projects in a collaborative environment with the ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
• Broad knowledge of innovative technologies being applied to advance translational science
• Experience of working in or with SMEs and a good understanding of commercialisation of science would be an advantage
• Ability to communicate effectively with both experts and non-experts in the field
• Highly effective strategic communication and research collaboration skills, working closely with a wide range of colleagues in range of academic and commercial organisations
  
  

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