Senior Scientist

This role is on a 12 month fixed term contract basis

Based at Alderley Park, Medicines Discovery Catapult is a national Life Sciences service dedicated to turning drug discovery into commercial breakthroughs. We accelerate the development of science, and where there are areas of unmet patient need, we stimulate innovation.

By transforming drug discovery, we can improve patient lives, increase the impact of the UK Life Sciences sector, and create a healthier society and economy. Our interventions work. Since we started, we have helped over 300 companies raise over £1bn of R&D investment. We seek passionate individuals who are eager to collaborate, innovate, and make a tangible difference in the field of drug discovery.

Together, we can unlock new therapies, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure that the UK remains at the forefront of life sciences innovation. If you are ready to make an impact, we invite you to be part of our journey.

The values of the Catapult are:

• Excellence – we continually strive to deliver the best solutions for our partners and for each other. In everything we do, we instil confidence.
• Integrity – Our strong commitment to what we do and why we are here drives us to do the right thing for our partners and each other.
• Community – We're a strong team, we work well together, and we respect each other.
• Innovation - We're driven by the need to make a difference. We constantly look for ways to drive change in our sector and how we work.

Role purpose

The role of Senior Scientist – Translational Imaging would suit a highly motivated self-starter who is passionate about the application of imaging techniques to study drug biodistribution and efficacy. The successful candidate will apply their skills to support a portfolio of collaborative projects across the MDC Translational Imaging platform, which utilises a range of preclinical imaging technologies (PET, CT, Gamma counting, US, Luminescence) in tandem with advanced radiochemistry.

The candidate will bring expertise in working with in vivo mouse models to generate imaging data for drug discovery projects. They will be responsible for designing and running pre-clinical studies to monitor, assess and characterise the biodistribution and efficacy of drug molecules, including complex medicines and biologics. The individual will work closely with colleagues in interdisciplinary project teams as well as our external collaborators. The opportunity to join a world class laboratory team in this high-profile national organisation, and contribute your ideas, insights, and creative science to collaborative projects across the UK, should provide a fantastic platform for career development.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Contribute scientific and technical expertise to deliver collaborative projects focussed on tissue biodistribution and efficacy.
• Working with Medicines Discovery Catapult colleagues, develop imaging strategies/methods to evaluate novel medicines.
• Responsible for study set-up, execution of experiments including downstream analysis, interpretation and reporting of results.
• Full awareness of Home-Office project licence and in vivo compliance.
• Deliver high quality data in a complex and time pressured research team environment.
• Liaising with external collaborators, contributing to scientific discussions and study design.
• Implement effective lab processes, experimental records, and safety.
• Demonstrate effective communication and research collaboration skills.
• Labelling/radiolabelling expertise (optional).

Essential qualifications, experience and knowledge

• The successful candidates will have demonstrated experience in in vivo and ex vivo techniques, with either a PhD or relevant laboratory experience.
• Personal Home Office licence (PIL AB).
• Proven, practical expertise, demonstrated by a track record of delivery.
• Practical experience of conventional in vivo techniques, including dosing via common routes, tumour/tissues collection, blood sampling & reporting clinical signs.
• Experience of working in collaborative project teams, with both internal and external colleagues; experience of working in a medicine discovery setting, with academic groups and SMEs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both experts and non-experts in the field.
• Experience in one or more imaging techniques (PET and/or IVIS).

Desirable qualifications, experience and knowledge

• Pharmaceutical industry experience.
• Experience in handling radioactivity.
• Proven expertise in labelling/radiolabelling techniques.

Closing date Friday 5th December 2025

Please note the closing date for applications may be brought forward if a high volume of applications are received.