Overview
The Centre for Medicines Discovery (CMD) is seeking an innovative and technically driven Postdoctoral Research Scientist to join its newly established high‑throughput automation chemistry hub, supporting an ambitious antimicrobial discovery programme funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation through the Antimicrobial Grand Challenges (Gr‑ADI) initiative. Working within the anti‑infectives group led by Dr Annette von Delft and in close collaboration with the chemistry teams led by Professor Paul Brennan and Dr Tryfon Zarganis‑Tzitzikas, you will contribute to building a next‑generation automated chemistry platform that accelerates fragment progression and synthesis. You will also integrate and refine computational tools developed by the XChem Fast Forward Fragments team at Diamond Light Source, enabling rapid compound design, synthesis, and structural evaluation.
Responsibilities
You will operate, adapt, and contribute to open‑source algorithms and automated workflows for high‑throughput compound synthesis, fragment progression, and data processing. You will design experiments that deliver rapid protein–ligand crystal structures, analyse diverse datasets, and refine experimental hypotheses. Working across a multidisciplinary network, you will manage your own research activities, contribute to reports and stakeholder meetings, and support wider project planning, including new research directions and income generation. You will maintain accurate electronic laboratory notebooks and databases, present findings at internal and external meetings, and provide computational training and scientific advice to colleagues and students.
Qualifications
It is essential that you hold a PhD/DPhil (or be close to completion) in computational chemistry, chemistry, structural biology, or a related discipline. You must have demonstrable experience in coding, programming, or automated/high‑throughput data generation and analysis, and an interest in developing and maintaining an industry‑standard automated chemistry facility. You will be well‑organised, able to manage your own academic research, and proficient with Microsoft Office and willing to learn specialist chemical and algorithmic software. Strong communication skills are essential, enabling you to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and collaborate effectively within a diverse scientific team. You will also bring a genuine interest in antimicrobial drug discovery and the ability to contribute creatively to new research ideas. Experience in organic or medicinal chemistry, lab automation, structural biology, fragment progression algorithms, or integrated drug discovery teams would be advantageous.
Application Process
Applications for this vacancy should be made online and you will need to upload a supporting statement and CV. Your supporting statement must explain how you meet each of the selection criteria for the post using examples of your skills and experience. Please restrict your documentation to your CV and supporting statement only. Any other documents will be requested at a later date. Interviews will take place the week commencing the 16th of February.
Contract
This position is offered full time on a fixed term contract until 28 February 2029 and is funded by Novo Nordisk Fonden. Only applications received before 12 midday on 12 February 2026 will be considered. Please quote 183844 on all correspondence.
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