Research Fellow – Chemistry Lead

Vacancy Number: 12456BR
Research Fellow – Chemistry Lead
Medicines Discovery Institute
Cardiff School of Biosciences

The Medicines Discovery Institute (MDI) was launched in early 2019 and is a major Cardiff University initiative to translate world-leading research on scientific understanding of disease mechanisms into innovative therapeutic approaches, with a specific – although not exclusive - focus on neuroscience and mental health. We are integral to a vibrant community of researchers across both academic and biotech sectors engaged in major research programmes which build off the unique strengths of Cardiff University and work collaboratively with other universities and companies across Wales and internationally. As a multidisciplinary team of around 40 drug discovery scientists that benefits from industry-standard, state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, the scientific and technical capabilities of the MDI has been reflected in the awarding of around £20m in research funding since the Institute started and our lead project for the treatment of schizophrenia has just entered clinical development.

As part of our continued drive to deliver new drugs to patients, we wish to appoint a Research Fellow to join a multidisciplinary team working on a 2-year project funded by the MRC. The project is targeting a subtype of GABAA receptors that are implicated in the pathophysiology of post-partum depression, which is an extreme form of the common so-called “baby blues”. Post-partum depression occurs within the first year after birth in around 20% of mothers and can have serious short- and long-term consequences for both mother and child. In this project we aiming to increase the activity of a unique population of GABAA receptors that are found outside the synapse and which control general brain excitability.

This role will lead the medicinal chemistry plan of a newly awarded grant to develop novel treatments for postpartum depression. You will be expected to provide ideas and innovation, specifically in the interpretation of screening data from biology assays and in the design of the medicinal chemistry plan. It is a laboratory-based position where you will be reporting to the project manager and responsible for the day-to-day management of small team of chemists to ensure delivery on milestones.

The post will be based at Cardiff University. For informal inquiries, please contact [email protected] .
This position is full-time, and fixed term from 1 January 2022 until 31 December 2023.

Salary: £43,434 - £50,296 per annum (Grade 7).

Date advert posted: Thursday, 28 October 2021

Closing date: Thursday, 18 November 2021

This post has previously been advertised to employees of Cardiff University only. We now invite external applications.

Cardiff University is committed to supporting and promoting equality and diversity and to creating an inclusive working environment. We believe this can be achieved through attracting, developing, and retaining a diverse range of staff from many different backgrounds. We therefore welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of sex, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, trans identity, relationship status, religion or belief, caring responsibilities, or age. In supporting our employees to achieve a balance between their work and their personal lives, we will also consider proposals for flexible working or job share arrangements.

“Cardiff University is a signatory to the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment (DORA), which means that in hiring and promotion decisions we will evaluate applicants on the quality of their research, not publication metrics or the identity of the journal in which the research is published. More information is available at: https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/research/our-research-environment/integrity-an... ”