The Cancer Research UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit, within the Division of Cancer Therapeutics, is a multidisciplinary 'bench to bedside' centre, comprising around 160 staff dedicated to the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. The Cancer Therapeutics Units exciting goal is to discover high quality small molecule drug candidates and to progress these to clinical trial. All the scientific disciplines are in place to make this possible, including medicinal chemistry, biology, drug metabolism and clinical specialists who focus on new molecular targets emerging from human genome and ground breaking cell biology research.
A postdoctoral protein crystallography position is now available in Dr van Montfort’s team (Ref. 1627317)in The Institute of Cancer Research, London. The successful candidate will establish the successful expression, purification and characterisation of one of their early stage targets, using contemporary expression systems and purification methods available within the Team. The Post-doc will establish the in-house crystallisation and structure determination for this exciting early stage target in CTUs drug discovery portfolio and subsequently carry out the structural determination of protein-igand complexes. In addition, the post-holder is expected to initiate the development of biochemical and biophysical assays development to monitor protein function. The successful candidate will be an integral member of a multidisciplinary project team and will interact closely with the biologists, computational chemists, medicinal chemists and structural biologists and will therefore be expected to work across the two sites in Chelsea, London and Sutton, Surrey.
Applicants must have a PhD in a biological or physical science, and experience in macromolecular crystallography (to include protein biochemistry, protein crystallisation, & protein crystallography).
Expertise in assay development and biophysical techniques would be advantageous. The starting salary for this position will be up to £35,538p.a. inclusive (based on previous experience). Appointment will be on a fixed-term contract for 1 year and benefits from a contributory defined benefit pension scheme and generous leave entitlement.
They are also seeking two highly motivated Higher Scientific Officers with experience in protein expression and purification to join Dr van Montfort’s team (Ref. 1627310). The postholders will be involved in establishing and carrying out the protein expression, purification, and characterisation of cancer targets to enable biochemical screening, high-throughput protein crystallography and Structure-Based Drug Design projects at the Unit. Applicants must be educated to degree level in a biological science and will ideally have an MSc or PhD in a relevant subject.
Experience and demonstrable skills in molecular biology, protein expression in E.coli and protein purification are essential. Experience in protein expression in insect and/or mammalian cells and or biophysical techniques such as SPR, DSF and ITC is highly desirable. The starting salary for the two positions will be in the range Point 1 £32,145 - Point 4 £36,080 p.a. according to experience and the posts are offered initially on a fixed term contract 2 year contract.
Closing date for the three positions (Ref. 1627317 and Ref. 1627310) is February 17th 2017. Informal enquiries to rob.vanmontfort@icr.ac.uk
Applications must be submitted on-line.
