Biochemist

SoseiHeptares Cambridge United Kingdom
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Company Description

Sosei Heptares (the corporate brand of Sosei Group Corporation) is a research-focused biotechnology group, publicly listed in Japan (TSE: 4565) and with sites in Tokyo, London and Cambridge (UK).

Our mission is to make a significant contribution to improving the quality of life and health of people around the world. To achieve this, we will discover, design and develop the most innovative and effective medicines for patients worldwide, through our world-leading patent-protected StaR® technology and platform.

Our primary focus is the discovery and early development of new medicines originating from our proprietary G Protein-Coupled Receptor (GPCR)-targeted StaR® technology and Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD) platform capabilities. We are advancing a broad and deep pipeline of novel medicines across multiple therapeutic areas, including CNS, immuno-oncology, gastroenterology, inflammation and other rare/specialty indications.

Our Company has established partnerships with some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical companies, including AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Biohaven, Genentech (Roche), GSK, Novartis, Pfizer and Takeda and additionally with multiple emerging technology companies. Sosei Heptares is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan with corporate and R&D facilities in Cambridge, UK.

Sosei Heptares has approximately 161 employees based at its new R&D research facility at Granta Park. The size of the company ensures a transparent linkage between all activities from early discovery through to clinical development

Position

We are now seeking a highly experienced membrane protein biochemist to join the Biochemistry group at our research facility on Granta Park, Cambridge, UK, working on membrane protein biochemical characterisation to enable drug discovery efforts.

At Sosei Heptares we are equipped with state-of-the-art protein expression, purification, SPR, mass-spectrometry, crystallisation and cryoEM facilities. Applicants should have at least 3 years’ experience in the expression and purification of challenging membrane proteins destined for biochemical, biophysical, and structural studies. Applicant should possess a proven track record of publications related to the expression, purification, and biochemical characterisation of difficult membrane protein targets in peer-reviewed journals.

This is an exceptional opportunity to participate in pioneering science with an industry-leading drug discovery company.

The successful candidate is expected to:

  • Express and purify membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes
  • Perform appropriate quality control analyses and biochemically and biophysically characterise purified membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes
  • Keep up to date, propose, develop, implement, and optimise new techniques in the fields of membrane protein expression, purification and biochemical characterisation
  • Work with scientists responsible for successfully progressing membrane protein targets through Sosei Heptares’ structure-based drug design pipeline
  • Collaborate with other Sosei Heptares scientists on research projects, working closely with molecular biologists, protein engineers, biophysicists, structural biologists, molecular pharmacologists, computational and medicinal chemists
  • Prepare and effectively present results (written and oral) to program teams
  • Have strong interpersonal skills and interact effectively with collaborators, internal and external, across a wide range of disciplines

Requirements

  • Candidates should possess a PhD in biochemistry, biophysics or a related discipline
  • Possess extensive molecular biology skills
  • Knowledgeable in prokaryotic and eukaryotic expression vectors and be experienced in their manipulation
  • Well-versed in expression construct design and engineering to successfully express membrane proteins destined for biochemical, biophysical and structural studies
  • Expert in the expression of membrane proteins from mammalian and insect cells
  • Proficient in the purification and extensive biochemical characterisation of membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes
  • Experienced in the reconstitution of purified membrane proteins in membrane-mimetic environments
  • Familiar with biochemical and biophysical techniques used to characterise membrane proteins such as luminescence, fluorescence and FRET-based techniques
  • Candidates should understand the requirements of purified membrane proteins destined for structural (X-ray and/or CryoEM) and biophysical studies (SPR, mass spectrometry)
  • Candidates should be highly organised

Other information

The successful candidate will be employed by Heptares Therapeutics Ltd, a UK wholly owned subsidiary of Sosei Group Corporation.

We offer a competitive salary, commensurate with qualifications and experience, and benefits package including pension and healthcare schemes.

Applications should include a covering letter, providing a short description of the background to their interest in the role, with curriculum vitae including the names and contact details for two referees. Please apply through our on-line jobs’ portal with your application in pdf format, quoting reference number 2021-3BMS.

The closing date for applications is 30th April 2021

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