Protein Research Scientist

Company Name: Vertex Pharmaceuticals

Type of Role: Contract position, Inside IR35

Contract length: 6 months

Location: Milton Park - Oxford, onsite 5 days a week

Looking for opportunities with purpose, impact and possibilities? Our client, Vertex, is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation. As they grow their pipeline at pace, they are strengthening their reputation for creating transformative medicines for people with serious diseases.

We are currently seeking a self-motivated and experienced protein biochemist to join the Structural Biology and Biophysics group at our Oxford site (Milton Park).

This position provides the candidate with an opportunity to learn and develop skills in drug discovery in a patient-focused environment.

The successful candidate should demonstrate strong hands-on experience of protein production from multiple expression systems, and purification of challenging targets such as protein complexes and/or membrane proteins. A key feature of this role is an ability to critically assess the scientific literature, and to design and run your experiments independently.

Experience in a broad range of biophysical or biochemical techniques, preferably using high throughput methods, and/or experience with either X-ray crystallography or cryo-EM would also be an advantage.

You will be part of a high impact team advancing drug discovery through application of protein biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology techniques. You will be working collaboratively with multiple interdisciplinary teams both in the U.K. and globally.

Key responsibilities

• Purification of proteins and other macromolecules for structural studies, biophysics and high throughput assays.
• Biophysical and biochemical studies of macromolecules using a range of methods for direct binding and small molecule modulator development.
• Maintaining an in-depth understanding of the biochemistry, molecular structure and wider role of each target in disease through critical analysis of the literature, working closely with our disease biology teams.

Key requirements

Essentials

• Ph.D. level (or equivalent experience) Biochemist or Biologist with extensive laboratory experience from similar roles in the pharmaceutical industry and/or in academia.
• A track record of delivering high impact results in protein science within academic or pharmaceutical industry settings as demonstrated through a strong publication history, supported by evidence of individual contributions to projects.
• Practical experience of recombinant protein expression in several platforms including mammalian (stable and transients), insect cells or E.coli.
• Strong practical experience in protein purification including IMAC, IEC, SEC, IEX, HIC, fusion protein cleavage technologies, use of AKTA system-based chromatography.
• Strong interpersonal and troubleshooting skills.

Desirable

• Familiarity with high-throughput methods for assessing protein expression and purification yields and quality is desired.
• Experience in the use of a range of biophysical methods, particularly in the context of assessing small molecule target engagement and/or experience with structural biology methods is an advantage.
• Experience with either X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM or cryoET.
• Excellent record keeping, communication and presentation skills.
• Demonstrable leadership for promoting innovation in those techniques and demonstrable abilities to troubleshoot problems as they arise.

Vertex is partnering with Talent Works to manage their international temporary job openings. If you are successful in your application, you will be employed by Talent Works to work on a temporary assignment at Vertex.