Based at Alderley Park, Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national Life Sciences service dedicated to turning drug discovery into commercial breakthroughs. We accelerate the development of science, and where there are areas of unmet patient need, we stimulate innovation. By transforming drug discovery, we can improve patient lives, increase the impact of the UK Life Sciences sector, and create a healthier society and economy. Our interventions work. Since we started, we have helped over 300 companies raise over £1bn of R&D investment. We seek passionate individuals who are eager to collaborate, innovate, and make a tangible difference in the field of drug discovery. Together, we can unlock new therapies, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of life sciences innovation. If you are ready to make an impact, we invite you to be part of our journey. The values of the Catapult are: Excellence – we continually strive to deliver the best solutions for our partners and for each other. In everything we do, we instil confidence. Integrity – Our strong commitment to what we do and why we are here drives us to do the right thing for our partners and each other. Community – We’re a strong team, we work well together, and we respect each other. Innovation - We’re driven by the need to make a difference. We constantly look for ways to drive change in our sector and how we work. Role purpose Translational imaging is a key pillar in our science strategy, and we have established a suite of preclinical imaging technologies, including PET/CT imaging and ex vivo radioisotope counting, that we deploy in tandem with advanced radiochemistry to advance our collaborators’ drug development programmes. We are building our capability in the characterisation of imaging and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals, an exciting new modality for oncology drug discovery, and this role is essential in the delivery of our growing radiopharmaceutical project portfolio. We are now seeking an expert radiochemist to help deliver our growing portfolio of partnered drug discovery projects. The individual will work closely with our pre-clinical imaging scientists and external partners to deliver translational imaging and therapy studies to the highest quality. They will be responsible for developing the optimal radiochemistry method and delivering the radioligand required to meet the objectives of partnered pre-clinical studies. Adherence to regulatory requirements and internal policies is an essential element in this role. The role of the Senior Scientist - Radiochemistry would suit an individual with technical expertise in the field who is passionate about the application of radiochemistry to drug discovery, enabling better translation of preclinical evaluation of therapeutics to the clinic, to improve patient outcomes. The individual will have expertise in production of radioligands labelled with alpha, beta and gamma emitting isotopes, preferably with experience in labelling novel radioligands for use in preclinical imaging and therapy studies, and knowledge of the requirements needed for preclinical study acquisition. Prior experience of metal chelation radiochemistry would be beneficial. Attention to detail, a collaborative mindset and flexibility to work on a range of projects is essential. This is an outstanding opportunity to join our growing translational imaging team and help deliver an exciting and diverse suite of partnered drug discovery projects. Main duties and responsibilities Develop and apply radiochemistry protocols, using a range of radioisotopes, to enable biodistribution and efficacy studies for a range of therapeutic modalities, including radiopharmaceuticals, complex medicines and small molecules Independently design and implement strategies and protocols to address project needs Deliver high quality work in a complex and time pressured research environment Provide insights and proposals to allow the further development of radiochemistry within the Catapult Working in close partnership with experts in pre-clinical imaging and the wider project team, managing complex collaborative projects with external partners to completion Contribute radiochemistry expertise and insights in discussions with external partners, to support development of new project opportunities and delivery of impactful partnered projects Ensure safe lab operations in radiochemistry, adhering to external regulations and internal policies and procedures Accurately document and maintain radiochemistry records for EA and PHE audit Apply effective communication and research collaboration skills, working with a wide range of internal colleagues, and with commercial and academic external partners Experience, skills & competencies A PhD in radiochemistry, or a degree in chemistry with equivalent, relevant radiochemistry experience; together with substantial relevant experience, preferably in a life sciences or medicines discovery environment In depth knowledge and extensive practical experience of radiochemistry, including direct and indirect labelling methods for biologics, small molecules and complex medicines and the use of gamma emitters such as 18F, 89Zr and 68Ga Experience in developing novel labelling strategies for research and translational projects Experience of working with open bench radioactivity and use of hot cells Proven track record of delivering high quality experimental work and impact in a project environment Knowledge of Environmental Agency standards and experience of working to these and other safety standards An understanding of recent advances in the growing areas of radio-diagnostics and radiotherapeutics; practical experience of radioisotopes such as 225Ac and 177Lu would be an advantage An understanding of the practical application of radioligands in pre-clinical imaging studies, using PET imaging, SPECT imaging, ex-vivo radioisotope counting or other methods Practical experience of delivering pre-clinical imaging studies would be an advantage Experience of working in collaborative project teams, with both internal and external colleagues Experience of working in a medicine discovery setting would be an advantage Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously in a highly collaborative and inter-disciplinary environment Ability to communicate effectively with both experts and non-experts in the field Closing date: Thursday 10th April 2025 Please note the closing date for applications may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.