Protein Computational Scientist

An exciting opportunity has been created for a talented scientist to work on methods to assess and quantify the tractability (also known as “druggability” or “ligandability”) of potential new targets for drug discovery. The position is funded in part by the Open Targets initiative which is a public-private collaboration between EMBL-EBI, GlaxoSmithKline, Biogen, Takeda, Celgene, Sanofi and the Sanger Institute to generate and integrate evidence on the validity of biological targets for drug development and in part by the EU Horizon 2020 EOSC-Life project that aims to create an open collaborative space for digital biology.

Your role

Reporting to the ChEMBL team leader, you will have excellent attention to detail, strong communication skills and be able to interact with technical experts as well as scientists from the Open Targets partners. You will develop, assess and validate methods for quantifying target tractability with the ultimate goal of incorporating such methodologies into the Open Targets informatics platform www.targetvalidation.org building upon and extending our current algorithms. We now wish to develop new approaches based on protein structure and sequence, exploit the full spectrum of drug discovery data in ChEMBL and explore new modalities beyond the current small molecule and antibody pipelines. As part of EOSC-Life you will work with collaborators across Europe to deliver pipelines that integrate data and computational methods in cloud-based environments.

You have

A PhD (or equivalent) in a chemical or biological science;
Practical knowledge and expertise in the area of protein sequence and structure analysis (e.g. homology modelling, structure-based design);
Sound knowledge of chemistry and cheminformatics methods;
Knowledge of mathematical modelling methods such as machine learning;
A high level of proficiency in at least one programming/scripting language (Python knowledge is highly desirable);
Experience in data processing;
Ability to work accurately and quickly to deadlines;
Able to work both as part of a team and independently;
Good communication skills (both verbal and presentational).

You might also have

Experience in developing websites and/or RESTful web-services;
Experience with data visualization methods;
Knowledge and experience with cloud computing;
Knowledge of a range of bioinformatics tools and resources e.g. UniProt, reactome;
Experience working in large collaborative projects;
Practical knowledge of drug discovery.

Why join us

At EMBL-EBI, we help scientists realise the potential of ‘big data’ in biology by enabling them to exploit complex information to make discoveries that benefit mankind. Working for EMBL-EBI gives you an opportunity to apply your skills and energy for the greater good. As part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), we are a non-profit, intergovernmental organisation funded by 22 member states and two associate member states. We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus near Cambridge in the UK, and our 600 staff are engineers, technicians, scientists and other professionals from all over the world.

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme and health insurance, educational and other family related benefits where applicable, as well as financial support for relocation and installation. For more information about pay and benefits click here.

We have an informal culture, international working environment and excellent professional development opportunities but one of the really amazing things about us is the concentration of technical and scientific expertise – something you probably won’t find anywhere else.

If you’ve ever visited the campus you’ll have experienced first-hand our friendly, collegial and supportive atmosphere, set in the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. Our staff also enjoy excellent sports facilities including a gym, a free shuttle bus, an on-site nursery, cafés and restaurant and a library.

Application Instructions: 

What else you need to know
To view a copy of the full job description please click here.

To apply please submit a covering letter and CV through our online system.

Applications are welcome from all nationalities and this will continue after Brexit. For more information please see our website. Visa information will be discussed in more depth with applicants selected for interview.

EMBL-EBI is committed to achieving gender balance and strongly encourages applications from women, who are currently under-represented at all levels. Appointment will be based on merit alone.

This position is limited to the project duration specified.

Applications will close at 23:00 GMT on the date listed above.

Application Closing Date: 
26 May 2019