Research Associate in Medicinal Chemistry

We are seeking to appoint an enthusiastic and experienced scientist at the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences to undertake research work for validation of an immune-complement protein as a novel therapeutic target to modulate synaptic plasticity in schizophrenia.

The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research team focused on developing novel small‑molecule drug candidates aimed at inhibiting a key complement protein-protein interaction. The post holder will apply a range of medicinal chemistry and molecular biology techniques, including computer‑aided drug design (e.g., molecular dynamics and molecular docking), synthetic organic chemistry for compound synthesis, purification, and characterization, as well as biological assays such as SDS‑PAGE, Western blotting, and enzymatic cleavage assays.

The research aims to validate a blood protein of the complement system as a potential therapeutic target relevant to schizophrenia.

For informal inquiries, please contact Dr Meike Heurich (heurichm@cardiff.ac.uk) or Dr Marcella Bassetto (bassettom1@cardiff.ac.uk).

This post is full-time (35 hours per week) and is fixed-term from 1st July 2026 until 30th June 2027.

This post is based at Redwood Building, Cathays Campus.

Salary: £41,064 - £46,049 per annum (Grade 6). The starting salary for this appointment is capped at £41,064 (point 32) due to limited funding.

Secondment opportunity welcome - please note for Cardiff University members of staff interested in this post on a secondment basis, permission will need to be sought from your current Line Manager before applying.  Closing date: Sunday, 3 May 2026