Synthetic Organic Chemist / Synthetic Organic Chemistess

Synthetic Organic Chemist

Are you a talented Synthetic Organic Chemist looking to contribute to the discovery of next-generation medicines? Proclinical is partnering with an innovative pharmaceutical organization in Cambridge that seeks a skilled scientist to join their growing discovery chemistry team. In this role, you will play a vital part in designing, synthesizing, and optimizing novel molecules to support cutting-edge drug discovery programs.

Working within state-of-the-art laboratories, you will contribute to medicinal chemistry projects from route design through to compound delivery, collaborating closely with multidisciplinary research teams.

Location

Cambridge, UK

Sector

Pharmaceutical | Drug Discovery | Small Molecule Research

Working Pattern

Laboratory-based (5 days per week)

Contract

12 Months

Key Responsibilities

• Design and optimize synthetic routes to novel target molecules.
• Execute organic synthesis, purification, and characterization activities.
• Troubleshoot synthetic and analytical challenges.
• Interpret analytical data, including NMR and LC-MS.
• Contribute to Design-Make-Test-Analyse cycles across drug discovery projects.
• Maintain accurate experimental records and communicate results effectively.
• Present scientific findings to project teams.
• Support laboratory equipment, safety initiatives, and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to publications, patents, and scientific presentations where appropriate.

Requirements

• PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related discipline, plus industry experience, or MSc with significant pharmaceutical or biotech experience.
• Strong practical and theoretical knowledge of modern organic synthesis.
• Experience designing and optimizing synthetic routes.
• Broad hands-on experience across organic synthesis, purification, and analytical techniques.
• Ability to interpret compound characterization data.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a results-focused approach.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work within multidisciplinary teams.

Desirable Experience

Experience in any of the following areas would be advantageous:

• Photochemistry or high-throughput experimentation
• Oligonucleotide chemistry
• HPLC, LC-MS, or NMR
• Electronic laboratory notebooks and scientific data management
• KNIME, Dotmatics, Spotfire, or related software
• Computational chemistry tools such as Schrödinger, MOE, or PyMOL
• Publications, patents, or intellectual property support

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing research organization developing innovative small-molecule therapeutics. You will have the chance to work alongside experienced scientists in a collaborative environment that encourages scientific creativity, innovation, and professional development.

How to Apply

If you're a motivated Synthetic Organic Chemist with experience in drug discovery, medicinal chemistry, or small molecule synthesis, we invite you to apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.

Proclinical is a leading life sciences recruiter focused on finding exceptional people and matching them with the finest positions across the globe. Proclinical is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.

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