Job Type: Fixed Term Contract
Astex Pharmaceuticals is a world leader in innovative drug discovery and development. The company has successfully applied its proprietary Pyramid Fragment-Based Drug Discovery platform to generate multiple new drug candidates that are progressing in clinical development. Successful collaborations have led to three launched oncology drugs (Kisqali partnered with Novartis, Balversapartnered with Janssen and Truqap partnered with AstraZeneca). Astex continues to grow and focuses on Neurological Disorders and Oncology.
The Role
An exciting 3-Year Fixed-Term Contract opportunity is available for a talented cryo-EM scientist to join the Discovery Technologies group at Astex. Astex has pioneered the use of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) in fragment- and structure-based drug discovery (FBDD and SBDD). We have established a state-of-the-art, in-house cryo-EM facility, including two Glacios and one Krios cryo-electron microscopes, with another Krios to be installed by the end of 2025. We have a fully equipped cryo-EM sample preparation laboratory, and extensive and dedicated computing infrastructure (CPU/GPU/storage). We have also developed custom data collection and processing workflows to facilitate the rapid generation and interpretation of cryo-EM structures for SBDD and FBDD. Astex is a member of the Cambridge Cryo-EM Consortium and has multiple collaborations with cryo-EM centres of excellence, including the MRC-LMB, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, the CSIC Biocomputing Unit (Madrid) and Monash University (Australia).
The role is laboratory based and the successful candidate will be engaged in enabling targets for Pyramid TM fragment screening by cryo-EM and supporting SBDD projects. Your work will encompass the cryo-EM process from grids to structure, working closely with protein biochemists, biophysicists and structural biologists. Collaborating in dynamic multi-disciplinary project teams, you will have the opportunity to apply your knowledge of cryo-EM to characterise protein targets and generate protein-ligand structures that enable the development of initial fragments to lead compounds. You will contribute to the ongoing development of Astex’s proprietary structural biology pipeline, working alongside structural bioinformaticians and software developers. Additionally, you will be able to pursue your personal development through internal and external presentations, collaborations, and publications in high impact journals.
Key Responsibilities
* Apply single particle cryo-EM to Pyramid TM fragment screening and SBDD projects
* Optimise challenging and diverse protein samples for high resolution cryo-EM structure determination
* Develop and implement high throughput data collection and processing strategies for the rapid generation of protein-ligand complexes
* Build and interpret models of proteins and protein-ligand complexes
* Work closely with scientists from multi-disciplinary project teams to generate structural hypotheses and inform iterative structure-guided design on live projects
Minimum Requirements
* PhD in single particle analysis cryo-EM, or equivalent experience
* Demonstrated success in preparation and optimisation of challenging samples for high resolution cryo-EM
* Familiarity with the use of high-end electron microscopes for screening and data collection
* Expertise in processing single particle cryo-EM data and familiarity with cryo-EM software packages
* Familiarity with atomic model building and refinement, and interpretation of structural data
* Strong interpersonal and communication skills
* The ability to work independently and as part of multi-disciplinary teams
* Creativity and self-motivation
* Experience in working with challenging protein targets, including membrane proteins and/or protein complexes
* Understanding of methods for biophysical characterisation of proteins and protein-ligand complexes
Why Astex
We offer excellent training and career development opportunities as well as a highly competitive salary and benefits package including hybrid working options to promote a flexible and inclusive work environment.
At Astex, we embrace diversity and equality of opportunity. We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse Company representing all backgrounds, harnessing industry-leading scientific innovation and behaviours.
Astex is situated 2.5 miles from Cambridge City centre on the Cambridge Science Park. The Park has onsite sports facilities and excellent transport links to London.
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