Peptide Chemist

CatSci Ltd, based in Cardiff, UK, is an expert service provider to the chemical research, development and manufacturing industries, specialising in process research and development for manufacturing drug substance and other high value materials. CatSci Ltd has extensive knowledge and expertise in a wide range of chemistry from discovery support through to full-scale manufacturing and life-cycle management. We are growing our team to accelerate the development of our capabilities in peptide synthesis and associated science.  To realise this ambition, we are seeking enthusiastic and driven team players to join us on this journey.   

Contract: Permanent 

Location: Nottingham  

Compensation:  £30,000 - £36,000  

Company Benefits: 25 days holidays (increases with tenure) + private medical cover + life cover + pension scheme options + volunteering days + other enhanced company benefits. 

Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities 

• Contribute to setting up, and establishing a peptide synthesis laboratory  

• Conduct synthesis, purification, and delivery of synthetic peptides, including linear, cyclic, modified, conjugated, and other complex derivatives   

• Contribute to the development of a culture of safe working practices and accompanying documentation for the laboratory 

• Work closely with a team of analytical chemists to ensure a thorough and accurate characterisation of synthesised materials 

• Undertake collaborative projects with colleagues in other teams to develop and deliver complex peptides and conjugates 

• Keep accurate records of experimental procedures, workflow, data and reports in accordance with regulatory requirements and quality standards 

• Develop methods and routine practices in the laboratory which seek to minimise environment harm 

• Analyse and interpret data and present work in a clear and concise fashion at regular company meetings, to external collaborators, and to customers. 

• Complete detailed analysis of the literature and established best practices for the preparation of relevant classes of peptides 

• Stay up to date with recent advances in the field 

Knowledge and Skills 

Essential 

• An ambitious team player who can conduct themselves in a polite, respectable, and professional manner when dealing with others 

• Industrial experience in pharmaceutical chemistry of 3+ years and a scientifically relevant degree (in synthetic chemistry, peptide chemistry, or a related discipline)  

• Broad, hands-on experience in peptide synthesis and purification 

• Experience in the use of techniques for the analytical characterisation of peptides including HPLC and Mass Spectrometry 

• A commitment to safe working practices 

• Ability to formulate and execute an experimental work plan 

• Ability to take accurate records of work carried out 

• Ability to liaise and communicate effectively with a wide variety of internal stakeholders  

• Excellent verbal, written, and numerical literacy skills 

Desirable: 

• Familiarity with GLP, GMP and/or GCLP 

• Experience in the use of NMR for the characterisation of peptides and/or small molecules 

• Past experience in strategies for conjugation of peptides to other biomolecules 

• Biophysical analysis of peptides and/or proteins 

• Expertise in the synthesis of oligonucleotides and/or PNA 

• Experience with high-throughput assays and functional assays of peptides/proteins 

• Experience working with peptide/protein array technologies