Computational Chemist - UOD2211

Computational Chemist School of Life Sciences
Unit: School of Life Sciences - DDU
Contract type: Open-ended @ 1 FTE
Grade 7 (£37,174 - £45,413)
We are recruiting for an exceptional individual to join us as a Computational Chemist/Senior Computational Chemist within our Computational Drug Discovery Applications Team, to apply and develop computational approaches that directly drive compound design, project decision-making and the progression of small-molecule drug discovery programmes. This is an open-ended appointment, subject to continued external funding.
This is an exciting role, contributing to the development of candidate medicines, to address unmet medical need. Projects ongoing in the DDU include infectious diseases (such as malaria and tuberculosis), neurosciences and women's health. You will be embedded within multidisciplinary drug discovery project teams and will work closely with medicinal chemists, DMPK scientists, structural biologists and biologists. The role focuses on applying computational chemistry, cheminformatics and data-driven methods to generate actionable insights, propose synthetically feasible compound designs and support progression from hit identification through to lead optimisation. Depending on experience, you may also help shape computational strategy and mentor junior colleagues.
This is an opportunity to work in a fully integrated, industry-style drug discovery environment within a world-leading academic setting. You will have access to substantial HPC resources, industry-standard software and a diverse project portfolio addressing both global health and innovative targets. We welcome applicants from both computational and medicinal chemistry backgrounds who are motivated by impact, collaboration and seeing their ideas translated into real compounds.
Please note that applications made on a part-time basis for this role will not be considered.
Your priorities will include:
· Collaborating with interdisciplinary project teams to support compound design and project decision-making
· Applying computational chemistry and cheminformatics methods to analyse SAR and propose design hypotheses
· Developing and using reproducible modelling and data analysis workflows
· Communicating computational insights clearly to experimental colleagues
· Contributing to a culture of scientific excellence, urgency and collaboration
Who we're looking for:
· A PhD-level scientist (or equivalent experience) in computational chemistry, cheminformatics, or medicinal chemistry with strong computational expertise
· Experience applying computational methods in a small-molecule drug discovery context
· Strong scripting skills (e.g. Python and/or KNIME) and familiarity with modelling software
· Good understanding of medicinal chemistry concepts and how they influence design and ADME risk
· A collaborative, proactive individual motivated to drive projects forward
We are one of the UK's leading universities, internationally recognised for our expertise across a range of disciplines and research breakthroughs in multiple areas, including science, medicine and engineering, amongst many others. Our purpose is to transform lives, locally and globally, which we do as a community of staff (Professional Services and academic Schools), students and alumni. Professional Services directorates are key to delivering the University strategy and driving change across the University.
For further information about this position please contact Professor Mahmood Ahmed at [email protected]. To find out more about Group/Unit/Team/School please visit the Website.
Commitment to DORA
The School of Life Sciences has been fully committed to the principals of the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA) since 2013. In assessing applicants, we consider the scientific quality of their published research papers, but do not take into account where the papers were published and do not consider journal-based metrics, such as Journal Impact Factors.
The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance learning. Family friendly policies, staff networks for BME, Disabled and LGBT staff, membership of Athena SWAN, the ECU Race Equality Charter and Stonewall as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.

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