Senior Principal Scientist (Enzymology)

Senior Principal Scientist, Enzymology Application Deadline: 26 January 2025 23:55 Cambridge, Babraham Research Campus or Glasgow, CRUK Scotland Institute We seek to recruit a passionate individual to lead and drive our Mechanistic Enzymology strategy, based at our Babraham Research Campus facilities in Cambridge, or CRUK Scotland Institute facilities in Glasgow. This is an exciting opportunity & time to join us as we move forwards with our new strategy and 5-year plan. About CRUK drug discovery At Cancer Research UK, our focus is on beating cancer. As the world's biggest medical research charity, we've helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster. We have recently developed a new approach to driving therapeutic innovation through the creation of Cancer Research Horizons (CRH). We have brought together Cancer Research UK's established drug discovery teams under one organisation and leadership team, combining our unique pipeline of world class biology, cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success. Based at 3 sites in Cambridge (Babraham Research Campus, the Biomedical Campus, and Granta Park), together with the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, the Francis Crick Institute in London, and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs 200 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds. We bring together the best minds in basic and clinical cancer research, the diligence and drive of pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and our in-house drug discovery capabilities to deliver breakthrough medicines for cancer patients. Our laboratories house the personnel and state of the art equipment required to progress projects from initial hypothesis through to selection of candidate drugs for regulatory development. We couple this with a deep understanding of academic and industrial drivers, enabling us to progress projects that combine the curiosity of basic research and the rigour of drug discovery. Who we are looking for Our new strategy sets out to bring deeper mechanistic understanding at the molecular and cellular level to all stages of projects, from Idea to pre-clinical Candidate. Reporting directly to the SVP Drug Discovery, you will set the vision and lead our mechanistic enzymology strategy, helping to identify the right drugs with the right mechanisms for the right patients, faster. You will also play a Leadership role in the wider Molecular Sciences department, contributing to the strategic direction within CRH. As our Senior Principal Scientist (SPS) Enzymology, you will be an inspirational scientist with an exceptional record of bringing your deep knowledge of enzymology and drug-target kinetics to impact on projects. You will be an experienced and passionate scientific leader, able to represent the department across a broad range of therapeutic projects and cross-site initiatives, and externally. You will contribute to, and lead, specific areas of scientific and technical innovation (including in novel modalities aligned to our strategic direction), incorporating external collaboration and partnership along with internal science builds. You will also lead drug discovery projects. Whilst this role will not manage any direct line-reports, a significant element will involve matrix leadership; you will also play a pivotal role in training and developing colleagues, including through your practical contributions from the bench. We are seeking an accomplished scientific leader who can articulate a vision for our mission and set direction and inspire commitment for preclinical Discovery. The SPS should have the following skills: Deep expertise in classical mechanistic enzymology and its role in drug discovery Ability to provide Scientific and Strategic leadership for the Molecular Sciences department, and wider CRH, to drive innovation and portfolio success Confidence and credibility to work at the intersection between mechanistic pharmacology, medicinal chemistry, computational chemistry, structural biology & DMPK to define and prosecute strategies that deliver mechanistic insight across a range of challenging target classes, from initial target characterisation through to clinical dose prediction Proactive, future-orientated and strategic in thinking style Excellent communication skills, ability to influence multiple stakeholders and collaborate across projects and sites A passion for promotion of scientific excellence, through external publication, presentations, and membership of conference committees and Scientific Advisory Boards Ensure equality and diversity is celebrated and considered as part of all decisions taken Excellent team-working skills combined with broad cross-functional knowledge Essential Requirements Education: PhD in Enzymology, Pharmacology, or equivalent experience Significant experience and deep expertise in mechanistic enzymology in a drug discovery environment Experience Proven track record of innovative scientific delivery through driving impactful mechanistic enzymology insight in drug discovery programmes, including detailed characterisation of multi-substrate enzyme mechanisms and drug mechanism-of-action Significant experience in translating drug-target kinetics from the molecular and cellular levels through to mechanistic PKPD modelling for therapeutic dose prediction Proven track record of portfolio impact across a range of challenging target classes, through intellectual and laboratory-based contributions, and project leadership Strong external reputation in mechanistic enzymology and drug discovery, evidenced through wide personal network, external presentation and publication in high-impact journals, and influential roles on relevant external committees Significant experience in inspiring and developing a diverse world-class group, whilst working in a highly matrixed discovery project environment Significant experience of establishing and leading external academic and industrial collaborations, and technology change projects Track record of delivering results across a diverse project portfolio by proactively driving strategic and scientific initiatives What we can offer you Competitive benefits package. Starting Salary £67,200 - £76,000 K subject to experience and negotiable Option to access the CRUK pension scheme where CRUK will contribute up 12% of your salary. Opportunities for professional development and conference attendance. A beautiful setting to work in, with access to campus facilities such as gym, tennis court, on site restaurant and country walks. Being part of a vibrant team committed to beating cancer.

Location: Cambridge, GB

Posted Date: 1/18/2025