Research Scientist - In Vitro Metabolism and ADME

Job description

Job Title: Research Scientist - In Vitro Metabolism and ADME
Salary: Competitive
Benefits: Bonus, Pension, Healthcare, Agile Working
Location: Colworth Science Park, UK

About the Role

The role sits within Unilever's Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, which is responsible for carrying out safety assessments on all Unilever products.

Unilever is a leading influence in approaches to demonstrate the safety of new cosmetic ingredients without testing on animals. Understanding the fate of chemicals in the body after use in cosmetic formulations is key to new ingredient safety assessment. Specifically you will work closely in a project team exploring the application of in vitro experimental data and mathematical modelling to provide advanced exposure assessments for consumers using Unilever products. http://www.tt21c.org/home/

Working in the field of DMPK, the role will involve evaluation of in vitro approaches to study human metabolism using both established routine assays and novel emerging technologies. Whilst liver metabolism is the primary focus, extrahepatic metabolism (in skin, for example) are in scope. The long term aim being to build a complete picture of the fate of cosmetic ingredients. This will require a good understanding of the current assays already routinely used and appreciation of new and emerging technologies that may be developed to provide useful data. You will be responsible for implementing these technologies in Unilever's labs, providing training and leadership to experimental biochemists.

The role will involve coordination and technical leadership of experimental programs both in-house and in CROs, academia etc.

You will be required to work with a range of scientific experts in a number of different disciplines, including toxicologists, ecotoxicologists, computational chemists, microbiologists and occupational safety experts to translate the results of in vitro assays into biological context.

Main Accountabilities

· Evaluate and implement in vitro approaches to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the metabolism of cosmetic ingredients
· Consider and account for inaccuracies and uncertainties that in vitro experimental data may introduce when considering human exposure
· Interpret in vitro metabolism data (e.g. kinetics)
· Work as part of an interdisciplinary team to help develop PBPK exposure models using the output of in vitro experiments as input parameters
· Influence the internal scientific research strategy on exposure assessment
· Communicate with both experts and non-experts and publish scientific work internally and externally
· Ensure scientific quality of experimental work and comply with the internal quality system in our GLP accredited facility

Essential Skills, Experience and Qualifications

· Extensive demonstrable knowledge and experience of in vitro metabolism approaches in the context of DMPK
· Experience in pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships, in vitro ADME and toxico/ pharmacokinetic data analysis
· Appreciation of analytical techniques applicable to metabolism assays
· Experience of mathematical modelling with knowledge of PBPK is desirable
· PhD in relevant field or relevant BSc with equivalent experience
· Strong problem solving capability
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills including the ability to convey complex scientific subject matter in a simple manner
· Experience of working in multidisciplinary teams on research problems, contributing to scientific strategy

Competencies (SOLs)
· Growth Mindset
· Accountability & Responsibility
· Bias for Action


Key words

· Adsorption Distribution Metabolism and Elimination (ADME)
· Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetics (PBPK)
· Metabolism
· Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics (DMPK)
· Toxicokinetics
· Toxicodynamics
· Pharmacokinetics
· Pharmacodynamics
· In vitro
· Kinetics
· Metabolite ID
· Microsomes
· Hepatocytes
· S9

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Unilever is a global Fast-Moving Consumer Goods company in the UK and Ireland. We are already on target to achieve our huge ambition to double the size of our business globally whilst reducing our environmental impact. We are growing our business and also doing what is right for our consumers, community and environment. We are developing brands for people's lives today and for the changing environment tomorrow - making sustainable living commonplace.

Working at Unilever means that you get to take part in this exciting journey and work with amazing people who are really passionate about our large portfolio of famous brands. We want to improve billions of lives and you too can join us in making a sustainable difference.

HOW TO APPLY

Hear stories from our Unilever Makers and understand how you can start your own Unilever career at: http://www.unilever.co.uk/careers-jobs/professionals/.

Or to apply now, click on “Apply to this job”. All candidate applications are reviewed in accordance with the criteria outlined for the job role. Please note that the closing date for the receipt of applications is 17 th December 2015

Candidates who have applied online can track their application through the candidate tracking link or, if you have any additional queries, you may contact the Recruitment hotline number on 0800 0284390.