Oxford, England, United Kingdom (On-site) 

Nicholas Howard have an exciting 12month contract opportunity for a Senior Research Scientist to join our client, a leading Global Biopharma, working on cutting edge research to drive small molecule drug discovery using mass spectrometry. 

This will be a fully lab based role, working from early stage through to preclinical projects, and will play a pivotal role in developing and delivering mass spectrometry (MS)-based assays to support the optimization of small molecule ligands as part of the drug discovery process. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Design, develop, and validate robust small molecule MS-based assays to support drug discovery and development programs. 

• Optimize assay conditions to ensure high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility for small molecule detection and quantification 

• Collaborate with structural biology and biophysics teams to integrate MS data with structural and biophysical insights 

• Work closely with medicinal chemists, biologists, and other scientists to align assay development with project goals. 

• Communicate results effectively through presentations, reports, and publications 

• Ensure compliance with laboratory SOPs, and detailed record keeping in electronic notebook 

• Maintain, operate and troubleshoot LCMS instrumentation for routine and novel assays 

Essential: 

• Relevant Ph.D. or equivalent experience with proven track record of small molecule mass spec delivery 

• Experience running and analysing quantitative small molecule mass spec assays 

• Practical experience working with triplequad MS platforms 

• Hands-on experience troubleshooting complex instrumentation 

• Track record for scientific problem solving 

• Sound understanding of data analysis principles and familiarity with data analysis software packages with particular focus on small molecule MS analysis 

• Self-driven ability to organize resources and data, manage time and priorities. 

• Desire to work in a fast, collaborative, and team-oriented environment. 

• The ability to communicate clear and concise updates across a variety of audience levels, keep track of experimental records and results. 

• Experience with data organisation and downstream reporting of MS data to other disciplines e.g. medicinal chemistry 

• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team. 

Desirable: 

• Experience of small molecule Affinity Selection Mass Spectrometry (AS-MS) 

• Experience in biochemical, biophysical, bioanalytical, and/or cellular MS screening technologies 

• Familiarity with other protein MS techniques such as Intact Mass, Native, HDX. 

• Experience of working within the drug discovery industry 

 For more information or a confidential discussion, please apply now!