🧬 Protein Crystallographer – Fragment-Based Drug Discovery (FBLD)
Near Reading
2 year contract - 2 days on site
Are you passionate about using structural biology to drive the discovery of next-generation therapeutics?
We are supporting a leading global pharmaceutical organisation as they expand a newly established Discovery Technology & Platforms function focused on accelerating small molecule drug discovery through cutting-edge science, advanced technologies, and innovative platform development.
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced Protein Crystallographer to play a key role in building and advancing an internal Fragment-Based Ligand Design (FBLD) platform that will directly influence future therapeutic discovery programmes.
🔬 Key Responsibilities:
• Design, execute, and analyse fragment screening campaigns using X-ray crystallography
• Solve and refine large volumes of protein-fragment crystal structures in parallel
• Utilise low-occupancy crystallography tools and modern refinement packages to identify and progress fragment hits
• Coordinate X-ray data collection activities across internal facilities, synchrotrons, CROs, and external partners
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary discovery scientists to support hit finding, cryptic pocket identification, mechanism of action studies, and molecular design
• Contribute to iterative fragment optimisation through growth, linking, merging, and structure-guided design cycles
• Develop and optimise workflows, automation strategies, and scalable structural biology platforms
✅ Ideal Background:
• PhD in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, Chemistry, or a related discipline
• Strong hands-on experience in protein crystallography and fragment-based drug discovery
• Proven expertise processing and solving large crystallographic datasets in parallel
• Experience with software such as PHENIX, BUSTER, PanDDA, Maestro/Schrödinger, ICM-Pro, GINGER, Fragmentstein, FrankenROCS, Cluster4x, or similar ideal
• Experience using scripting and automation tools, ideally within HPC environments
• Track record of translating crystallographic data into actionable medicinal chemistry insights
• Strong communication skills with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary discovery teams
🌟 Why Apply?
• Join a newly created innovation-focused group driving the future of molecule discovery
• Work with cutting-edge technologies and world-class scientific teams
• Influence the development of transformative discovery platforms from the ground up
• Contribute directly to programmes focused on delivering breakthrough therapies for patients with unmet medical needs
📩 If you have experience in protein crystallography, fragment screening, structural biology, or structure-based drug design and would like to learn more, please get in touch for a confidential discussion.
Tshering Sherpa