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Job description

Evotec is a leader in integrated Research and Development (EVO iR&D) and has built substantial drug discovery expertise and technical capabilities to drive new innovative, diverse modalities into the clinic. The Company currently has >4000 employees worldwide with key therapeutic expertise in multiple disease areas including neuroscience, pain, metabolic diseases, oncology, ageing, women’s health, inflammation and infectious diseases. Leveraging these platforms and expertise, Evotec successfully delivers on science-driven discovery alliances with pharmaceutical and biotechnology partners.

We aim to positively impact patient life through application of innovative AI-driven Drug Discovery and Development platforms, working in an intellectually stimulating and multi-disciplinary environment. To efficiently support and expand our business at our Abingdon site, we are looking for highly skilled, innovative, engaging, and pro-active scientists.

To support planned growth throughout 2023, we are recruiting for a Senior Scientist 1 / Group Leader (Drug Hunter Molecular Architect - Medicinal Chemistry)

Within the Molecular Discovery function, “Molecular Architects” with Computational Science and Medicinal Chemistry drug design backgrounds work in harmonious partnership that takes advantage of their complementary background and expertise to rapidly deliver solutions for our partners. These expert design units embrace state-of-the-art AI/ML approaches combined with evolving computational techniques to accelerate project progression.

The molecular discovery function is focused on multi-modalities including small molecules, macrocycles, natural products, peptides and Biologics (ASOs, RNAs, Antibodies, ADCs). Our mission is to deliver high quality drug candidates by integrating disease area knowledge, drug discovery & development expertise, and top shelf informatics using a lean, multiple modality platform approach.

Drug Hunter Molecular Architects (DHMA’s) bridge multidisciplinary drug discovery teams, with the objective to progress compounds and projects towards pre-clinical development candidate nomination.

As a Drug Hunter Molecular Architect, you will bring your expertise of designing drug intervention strategies, and knowledge computational tools, with an expectation that you will develop and expand your skillset as you go. The experience within the department and the wider global team is broad will be at your disposal to provide advice and specialist expertise. The successful candidate will be based in Evotec’s flagship building at 95 Milton Park (Abingdon, UK), where hybrid working is an option.

Role & Responsibilities

• Provide drug discovery and drug design support/expertise to positively impact on internal and external projects in all the drug discovery phases up to Preclinical Drug Candidate (PDC) nomination and Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling phases
• Apply Medicinal chemistry principles and strategies to support and/or guide integrated drug discovery projects and to tackle shortcomings of Hit/Lead molecules
• Interact synergistically with Computational Molecular Architects to select and apply computational chemistry tools as well as AI/ML methods to design and prioritize the list of compounds to advance into synthesis for the next DMTA cycle(s)
• Work closely and collaboratively with computational chemists to provide constructive feedback and act proactively to continuously improve the Evotec’s AI/ML platform.
• Interact closely with multi-disciplinary projects teams (synthetic chemists, biologists, DMPK scientists, biophysicists, etc…)
• Adapt scientific knowledge to resolve problems encountered with assistance from their line manager or other team members to achieve the defined project goals that lead to key milestones
• Work closely with partners to understand the competitive landscape in relation to the desired target-product profile (TPP)
• Actively contribute to the scientific development of the global Molecular Architect department by helping to develop drug discovery best practice.
• Present work and results at project team meetings (both internally and with clients) and departmental meetings
• Publication of peer-reviewed journals, presentation at scientific conference and patents
• Implement appropriate medicinal chemistry strategies

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Good knowledge/understanding of Medicinal Chemistry principles and modern in silico Tools/methods applied to drug discovery and experience in using computational tools/SBDD to design target molecules to impact drug discovery programmes
• Understanding of DMPK / biology / biophysics / structural biology principles and their impact on compound design and progression
• Good knowledge of synthetic chemistry, an ability to interact with synthetic chemists and appreciation of synthetic tractability, gained through a minimum of 3 years’ experience of practical synthetic organic chemistry. (this role does not require bench activities or synthetic route design)
• Proven aptitude for learning and applying computational chemistry (CADD) software (e.g. MOE, Schrodinger, Cresset or BiosolveIT)
• Familiar with visualisation/analysis software (e.g. Spotfire, StarDrop, Datawarrior, Vortex)
• Desire to learn and apply computational and AI/ML approaches to drug discovery
• Ability to work both independently and as a part of multi-disciplinary teams with multiple projects in parallel, and to deliver high-quality results
• Demonstrate flexibility and have the ability to adapt to changing priorities
• Suggest constructive recommendations or suggestions to advance projects
• Self-motivated, enthusiastic, cooperative and reliable
• Dynamic personality with passion for innovation and problem-solving
• Excellent communication skills, with fluent English (oral and written).

Additional skills (But not essential)

• Familiar/skilled with use of KNIME and/or pipeline pilot
• Knowledge of structure-based approaches, QSAR modelling and/or multi-parameter optimisation
• Experience in the field of protein modulation approaches such as small molecules targeting RNA and/or protein degradation (molecular glues, PROTACs, etc…)
• Experience in leading drug discovery project team(s) will be highly valued
• Good scientific reputation, as evidenced by publications, patents, and invited presentations
• Skilled at building strong relationships both internally and with external partners

Experience & Education

• PhD or equivalent industrial experience in organic/medicinal chemistry or similar
• 5+ years industry and/or academic experience contributing design ideas to drug discovery projects. applying medicinal chemistry expertise

Other information

• Positively impact patient life by building together the most innovative AI driven Drug discovery platform within a leading-edge company
• Work in an intellectually stimulating and multi-disciplinary environment

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Salary: From £46,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee discount
• Flexitime
• Free parking
• Gym membership
• Life insurance
• On-site parking
• Private dental insurance
• Private medical insurance
• Store discount
• Wellness programme

Schedule:

• Day shift
• Flexitime
• Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

• Performance bonus
• Yearly bonus

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Abingdon: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience:

• Drug discovery: 5 years (preferred)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Abingdon

Reference ID: 06570