Senior Scientist - Medicinal Chemistry

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Scientist specializing in Medicinal Chemistry to join their innovative drug discovery team in Leeds . This role is crucial for designing and synthesizing novel small molecules with therapeutic potential, contributing directly to the development of new medicines. You will work in a state-of-the-art laboratory environment, collaborating closely with biologists, pharmacologists, and other chemists to advance projects from hit identification through to lead optimization. The successful candidate will play a key role in driving chemical strategy and innovation within the Leeds -based research hub, fostering a culture of scientific rigor and collaborative problem-solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and synthesize novel small molecules with desirable pharmacological profiles using modern synthetic chemistry techniques.
• Optimize lead compounds based on structure-activity relationships (SAR), structure-property relationships (SPR), and pharmacokinetic data.
• Develop and execute synthetic routes for complex target molecules, troubleshoot challenging syntheses.
• Collaborate effectively with biologists and other disciplines to define compound requirements and project goals.
• Characterize synthesized compounds using techniques such as NMR, MS, HPLC, and chiral chromatography.
• Maintain meticulous records of experimental procedures and results in electronic laboratory notebooks.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry.
• Minimum of 4 years of hands-on experience in medicinal chemistry in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Proven ability to design and synthesize novel chemical entities with complex structures.
• Strong understanding of SAR, ADME/Tox principles, and computational chemistry tools.
• Proficiency in modern synthetic organic chemistry techniques and analytical characterization methods.
• Excellent problem-solving skills and ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance-related bonus.
• Comprehensive private health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Pension scheme and life assurance.
• Generous annual leave and paid holidays.
• Opportunities for career advancement and professional development in Leeds .