Cell Biologist, Screening Profiling & Mechanistic Biology

Job description

Details:

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a world leading research-based pharmaceutical company that combines both individual talent and technical resources to create a platform for the delivery of strong growth in a rapidly changing healthcare market. Our mission is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.

An opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated laboratory based Cell Biologist to join the Department of Screening, Profiling & Mechanistic Biology (SPMB) at GSK's Medicines Research Centre in Stevenage. The department is responsible for broad biological activities predominantly in pre-clinical drug discovery, including assay development, compound profiling and mechanism of action studies.

Currently, there is an emphasis on the need to develop therapeutically relevant cell based assay systems which will help discover quality lead molecules and translate their activity into successful candidate molecules. Therefore, there is an increasing need to bring a deep mechanistic understanding of disease biology to ensure the success of our early drug discovery strategies. Scientists within the department work in close collaboration with experts from multiple therapeutic areas (including Respiratory and Immuno-inflammation) to define our drug discovery and screening strategies, and in doing so help establish and maintain awareness of the target and therapeutic rationale across the programs we support.

The ideal candidate for this key position will possess significant experience in disease biology relevant assays, that underpin activities to identify and progress new therapies in pre-clinical drug discovery. Such assays are required in both drug target-based but also target-agnostic (Phenotypic Drug Discovery) approaches. It is likely that the candidate will have experience in flow cytometry and potentially some other state-of-the-art screening technologies used in these approaches such as high-content imaging, high-throughput sandwich immunoassays, 3D cell culture and co-culture systems.

If requiring an adjustment for a disability, once selected for interview you may contact ************@*******.**

When applying for this role, please use the 'cover letter' of the on-line application to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above.

Closing date for applications is 31st May 2016

*LI-GSK

Contact information:

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Desired profile

Basic qualifications:

• PhD or equivalent experience in a relevant subject area
• Extensive practical experience and in depth knowledge of cell biology, in particular cellular immunology
• Experience in the design and development of cell based assays, across multiple cell types and utilising multiple technologies.
• Knowledge of pharmacological principles and the ability to interpret quantitative data sets from compound profiling experiments.
• Core knowledge and experience of Flow cytometry and at least one other screening platform in the area (e.g., High-content imaging plate-based screening platforms, sandwich immunoassays, mass spectrometry analyte detection)
• Excellent team-working behaviours, interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong influencing and analytical skills coupled with the ability to problem solve.
• Highly committed, enthusiastic, self motivated and demonstrated passion for learning.

Preferred qualifications:

• Broad knowledge on strategies to validate assay relevance to disease
• Demonstrated skills in delivering technology advancements.
• Experience of using laboratory automation for compound screening in an industrial setting, and software solutions for routine and complex data analysis.
• Familiarity with primary cell isolation, culture and characterisation.
• Knowledge and demonstrated experience of complex cellular systems (e.g. primary cells, co-cultures, stem cells, 3D cell culture, tissue samples).