Description

Overall Purpose

The Discovery and Exploratory Research (DER) programme comprises multiple drug discovery projects applying highly collaborative, virtual models to access the best science to contribute to GARDP’s portfolio of new chemical entities (NCEs). The DER team liaises closely with GARDP’s preclinical and clinical programmes and ensures emerging results from other organisations are quickly fed back into discovery projects.

The DER partners comprise academic research laboratories, research institutes, CROs, pharmaceutical companies and expert consultants. The consortia optimize hits from screening and after achieving in vivo proof of principle will proceed to select advanced leads and ultimately preclinical candidates for further development. The GARDP Discovery (Senior) Officer will work with the DER Senior Project Manager and contribute ideas and help implement and develop new approaches.

The above programme is linked to the Serious Bacterial Infections (SBI) programme. Thus, they require an integrated transversal approach to their management.

Contribution

He/she will provide specialist support to the DER programme on a case by case/project basis, in consultation with other colleagues or consultants.

Requirements

Tasks and Responsibilities

Data management:

• Ensure well curated and management of GARDP’s compound database (ScienceCloud) by coordinating data validation, registration and storage. Help dealing with any requests related to database (e.g., user rights and permissions, access, user training, customization, and troubleshooting in coordination with the SC support team).
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures and templates for data analysis and reporting by partners
• Develop and implement tools for the tracking of screening, hit evaluation and progression, annotation, presentation and reporting of data generated through GARDP DER projects.
• Compile and format data from ScienceCloud and other sources to enable efficient analysis and decision-making.

Compound management:

• Implement and manage all relevant processes, logistics, ordering procedures, stock views
• Track compound shipment (includes continuous update of compound shipment trackers and adaptation of related monitoring tools used in this process)
• Collate information on compound libraries and develop and implement chemoinformatic tools for the in-silico evaluation of compound collections (in coordination with consultants)

Project/scientific knowledge coordination:

• Coordinate specific project activities such as setting up meetings and helping arrange legal documents
• Conduct literature research and analyse specific scientific questions/issues emanating from DER projects
• Keep updated with scientific publications and reports relevant to GARDP DER
• Draft meeting notes and reports where necessary

Job Requirements

Skills and Attributes

• Well organized and structured
• Very good analytical skills
• Ability to contribute to the project delivery under minimum supervision
• Ability to use initiative, prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines
• Clear and systematic thinking that demonstrates good judgment and problem-solving competencies
• Ability to solve non-routine problems on a case by case/project basis
• Very good communication skills in multicultural, multi-lingual environments
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multicultural team
• Has certain autonomy for taking actions and decisions
• Ability to interact with external stakeholders

Technical Skills

Essential

• Advanced computing skills and capacity to effectively manipulate, visualize and analyze large datasets
• Sound knowledge of chemical structure representations and interpretation of assay results and statistics
• Broad knowledge of drug discovery database environments, in particular BIOVIA ScienceCloud.

Desirable

• Expertise in a core drug discovery discipline

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 3 years’ relevant postgraduate experience (to be appointed as an officer) or 6 years (to be appointed as a senior officer) in (medicinal) chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry, bioinformatics, cheminformatics or pharmacology
• Working in a drug discovery team OR on antibacterials (preferably both)
• Experience in the identification of lead compounds and their development into active drug candidates.
• Broad understanding of interdisciplinary drug discovery
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure
• Experience of working in public and private sector
• Experience of working in highly collaborative teams across different time zones

Desirable

• Experience in the identification of lead compounds and their development into active drug candidates.
• Broad understanding of interdisciplinary drug discovery
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure
• Experience of working in public and private sector
• Experience of working in highly collaborative teams across different time zones

Education

Post graduate degree at least Master level or graduate degree with equivalent in experience in (medicinal) chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, cheminformatics or pharmacology

Other Requirements

• IT competence: good working knowledge of Microsoft Suite of applications and advanced knowledge of Excel
• Fluency in English
• Proficiency in French is desirable

To apply

• Please submit your application using the online form
• Deadline for application: Accepting applications until January 15th 2021
• All candidates will be reviewed after closing date
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Apply at: https://apply.workable.com/gardp/j/B72E84E049/apply/