Computational Chemist

Sciences     ·      Abingdon       ·       Full time

The Molecular Architects department are seeking an inquisitive and self-motivated computational chemist to join their dynamic team based at the Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Campus, Milton Park in Oxfordshire. The department is at the forefront of the application of computational chemistry technology, working collaboratively alongside colleagues in Discovery Chemistry, in an interdisciplinary environment.

The Role:

Working as a Computational Chemist you will apply a broad range of computational techniques, including proprietary state of the art AI/ML approaches, for the benefit of Evotec’s customers and internal drug discovery programs. It is a fast moving environment, requiring the ability to learn quickly and work efficiently. You will be exposed to a broad range of computational techniques but also therapeutic targets and drug discovery approaches including DNA encoded libraries, targeted protein degradation, and protein modelling. The skillset within the department is broad and the wider global team will be at your disposal to provide advice and specialist expertise. You will bring your own skills and knowledge but will develop and expand your skillset as you go. Many of our computational tools were developed in-house and you will be expected to provide feedback for their continuous improvement, as well as developing your own, should the opportunity arise.

Responsibilities:

The entry level will range from Senior Scientist to Principal Scientist and will be commensurate with experience. You will execute computational chemistry strategy to drive problem solving within project teams. In addition, you will contribute to the development of our capabilities and may be involved in business development activities. You will use your communication skills and professionalism to interact effectively with clients and internal business partners.

Ideal candidate profile:

• First degree in chemistry or a related subject
• PhD or equivalent experience in computational chemistry or a related subject
• Strong presentation and communication skills
• Good publication record
• An expertise in computational chemistry and a thorough understanding of the drug discovery and development process
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with multidisciplinary teams in a fast-paced, high-energy environment

Expertise & skills (not limited to):

• Experience of supporting computational chemistry activities in an industrial setting
• Knowledge of structure-based and ligand-based drug design techniques for virtual screening, cheminformatics, and macromolecular modelling
• Skills in machine learning, deep learning, statistical modelling, and advanced data analytics
• Practical knowledge of quantum mechanics (QM) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, including the application of Free Energy Perturbation (FEP) calculations
• Experience with modelling software including those from CCG, Cresset, GAMESS, OpenEye, Chemaxon and KNIME
• Scripting/programming skills, ideally in Python

Please click here to apply.