Salary:
Research Assistant: £33,002 to £34,610 per annum
Research Associate: £35,608 to £36,636 per annum
Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.
Closing Date: 02 November 2025
The Role
An exciting opportunity to develop cutting-edge methods in medicinal chemistry applied to anti-cancer drug discovery within a thriving, multidisciplinary academic drug discovery group. You will work as a researcher in the medicinal chemistry team applying organic chemistry to the discovery of new cancer therapies.
The project will involve the application of DNA-encoded technology to the discovery and optimisation of lead compounds for novel cancer targets. This will involve the design and synthesis of DNA-encoded compounds, selection against target proteins and resynthesis of active compounds off-DNA.
The project is part of the Cancer Research UK Newcastle Drug Discovery Programme and as a partnership with Cancer Research Horizons and Astex Pharmaceuticals. It is ideally suited to candidates with a background in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or chemical biology, especially with those with an ambition to pursue a future career in drug discovery.
This post is fixed term until 25 October 2027 with the possibility of extension.
For informal enquiries contact: Prof. Mike Waring at mike.waring@ncl.ac.uk.
Find out more about the Faculty of Medical Sciences here:
Find out more about our Research Institutes here:
As part of our commitment to career development for research colleagues, the University has developed 3 levels of research role profiles. These profiles set out firstly the generic competences and responsibilities expected of role holders at each level and secondly the general qualifications and experiences needed for entry at a particular level.
Key Accountabilities
• Design and synthesis of compounds for biological test, including DNA-encoded compounds
• Close working with project team to integrate work into drug discovery workflow
• Close communication with industrial collaborators
• Although working under the general guidance of an academic or Principal Investigator, the postholder will contribute ideas, including enhancements to the technical or methodological aspects of their studies, thus providing substantial 'added value'
• Develop and carry out the specified project using appropriate techniques and equipment as outlined in the personal requirements
• Determine appropriate methodologies for research, with advice and support where required
• Contribute to grant applications submitted by others and in time develop own research objectives and proposals for funding
• Assess research findings for the need/scope for further investigations
• Contribute to the writing up of their research for publication and dissemination, either through seminar and conference presentations or through publications
• Present research findings, either at conferences or through publications in reputable outlets appropriate to the discipline
• May be involved in the supervision of final year undergraduate research projects and in providing support to postgraduate research students or Research Assistants
• Will need to work with support staff and undergraduate and postgraduate students and interact intellectually with other academic members of the Institute.
The Person
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
• Experience in organic or medicinal chemistry or chemical biology
• Ability to work well as part of a team and rapidly acquire new skills
• High level of analytical and problem-solving capability
• High level of record-keeping and organizational skills
• Ability to communicate complex information with clarity and to encourage the commitment of others
• Experience of research with clear transferable skills and some experience or awareness of the research environment
Desirable
• Experience of DNA or protein science
• Presentations at conferences and/or high-quality publications
• Experience of computational data-analysis
• Prior experience of medicinal chemistry
Qualifications
• A degree in chemistry or a related field
• A PhD in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or chemical biology (candidates who are about to obtain a PhD are encouraged to apply)
Newcastle University is a global University where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.
We are committed to being a fully inclusive university which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all of our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing teams, we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and experiences reflect the diversity of our university and student population.
At Newcastle University we hold a gold Athena Swan award in recognition of our good employment practices for the advancement of gender equality. We also hold a Race Equality Charter Bronze award in recognition of our work towards tackling race inequality in higher education REC. We are a Disability Confident employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role as part of the offer and interview scheme.
In addition, we are a member of the Euraxess initiative supporting researchers in Europe.
Requisition ID: 28614