In collaboration with interdisciplinary team members, the individual will drive preclinical CNS projects from hit identification to candidate selection stage. Responsibilities will include the design of novel modulators for targets across several protein classes and drive the synthetic chemistry efforts by working with external partners/CROs. The individual may take on project leadership and they will play a critical role in advancing promising compounds to in vitro selectivity, DMPK and efficacy studies in a timely manner.

Requirements

A successful candidate ideally has a PhD. in synthetic/medicinal chemistry, with atleast and five years experience in small-molecule drug discovery. The candidate will have a proven track record in understanding medchem principles. Beyond medicinal chemistry, the candidate should bring good knowledge of neighboring disciplines, in particular DMPK and in vitro pharmacology. Experience of computer-aided molecular design including docking and structure-based drug design is desirable but not essential. The candidate will have excellent time management and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Excellent verbal and written communication skills and experience working with CROs will be essential for this role.

Importantly, the successful candidate needs to be a team player, demonstrate innovative and proactive thinking and be passionate about drug discovery.

About Cerevance

Cerevance is an emerging Biotech harnessing a novel technology platform to deliver life-changing therapeutics for patients with central nervous system diseases. Cerevance is generating unprecedented human CNS expression data sets, from which novel targets are being identified for innovative drug discovery programs. Based on this approach, we have built a strong pipeline of programmes at various development stages, ranging from target validation, hit identification to lead optimization and clinical stages.
We are seeking to recruit a self-motivated scientist with core expertise in Medicinal Chemistry to support our preclinical research based in our Cambridge, UK facility. This position is an excellent opportunity for an experienced medicinal chemist who is keen to have an impact on preclinical projects. Successful appicants will be competitively rewarded with base salary, annual bonus, pension, medical benefits and long term incentives.