Senior Scientist - Biochemistry/Biophysics, Mechanistic Pharmacology

Senior Scientist - Biochemistry & Biophysics (Mechanistic Pharmacology) 

Salary: £41,700 - £51,300 plus benefits (dependent on experience)
Reports to: Principal Scientist or above 

Directorate: Research & Innovation 

Contract: Permanent 

Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week (other flexible-working requests will also be considered if it meets business needs) 

Location: Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge (3 days minimum per week onsite at the laboratory site).  

Closing date: Sunday 15th November 2026

Recruitment process: Initial telephone screening interview, followed by on-site F2F assessment for successful candidates. 

At Cancer Research UK, we exist to beat cancer. 

We have an exciting opportunity for a passionate and dedicated Senior Scientist to join Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) in the Mechanistic Pharmacology team. In this role, you will provide lab‑based scientific leadership and intellectual input across the design, development, execution, and analysis of biochemical experiments. You will characterise target mechanisms, drive hit‑identification campaigns, generate high-quality SAR/SKR data, and deliver compound mechanism‑of‑action studies. Your contributions will be central to shaping project strategy and advancing portfolio objectives. While the role sits within a multidisciplinary biochemistry and biophysics team, this appointment will have a primary focus on biochemical approaches.

About Cancer Research Horizons   

As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring fourteen new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.

Cancer Research Horizons (CRH) is CRUK’s internal translation engine. CRUK’s established drug discovery teams operate under one organisation and leadership team. Our unique combination of cancer biology expertise and access to CRUK’s world-class academic network, coupled with cutting edge technology platforms and clinical expertise enables us to 1) bring new treatments to patients faster and 2) tackle the biggest challenges in discovering cancer drugs by seeking out more radical ideas and embracing risk in our bid to achieve success.  

Based at sites in Cambridge, the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs ~180 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds.

What will you be doing?

• Provide practical scientific leadership for the detailed molecular characterisation of cancer targets and the in vitro characterisation of small molecules using a range of biochemical assay technologies. Drive a strategic focus on detailed kinetic and mechanism of inhibition studies and their translation into the cellular environment. 

• Design and implement biochemical strategies and cascades to support the characterisation of novel small molecules, generating high-quality SAR and SKR data to guide project decisions.

• Drive the adoption of innovative biochemical technologies and ways of working, maintaining awareness of emerging approaches and building productive relationships with external experts and collaborators.

• Provide scientific leadership for external partnerships, including CROs, defining and implementing best practice for biochemical assays and bespoke mechanism-of-action studies that complement internal capabilities.

• Work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary research teams across Cancer Research Horizons and with external collaborators to advance project objectives.

• Prioritise and coordinate delivery of scientific objectives, taking responsibility for the timely achievement of project and team goals.

• Provide people leadership through training, mentoring, and matrix management, supporting the development and success of colleagues across multidisciplinary teams.

• Interpret, communicate, and present complex scientific data to a range of audiences.

• Represent Cancer Research Horizons at external conferences, and promote our innovative science through publication 

• Communicate effectively, with openness and respect for the opinions of others 

• Maintain accurate, timely, and compliant electronic laboratory records.

What are we looking for?

We are seeking an accomplished scientific expert with the following skills and experience: 

• BSc, MSc or PhD in biochemistry or in vitro pharmacology (relevant experience may be substituted for education).

• Significant research experience in an industrial drug discovery environment.

• Proven expertise in using mechanistic enzymology to characterise novel targets.

• Extensive understanding of biochemical assay technologies, including kinetic profiling.

• Significant experience of assay development for a range of target classes.

• Significant experience of characterising small molecules.

• Awareness of emerging technologies and their application within the biochemical field.

• Credible external reputation, demonstrated through publications and presentations at key conferences.

Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do. 

Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination   

Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism    

Human: Act to have a positive impact on people   

Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively 

We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these organisation values and can use them to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer. 

What will I gain? 

We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals. 

You can explore our benefits by visiting our careers web page. 

How do I apply? 

We operate an anonymised shortlisting process in our commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. CVs are required for all applications; but we won’t be able to view them until we invite you for an interview. Instead, we ask you to complete the work history section of the online application form for us to be able to assess you fairly and objectively. 

For more information on this career opportunity please visit our website or contact us at [email protected].  

For more updates on our work and careers, follow us on: Linked In, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

Our vision is to create a charity where everyone feels like they belong, benefits from and participates in, the work we do. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and cultures, in particular those from ethnic minority backgrounds who are currently under-represented.

We want to see every candidate performing at their best throughout the job application process, interview process and whilst at work. We therefore ask you to inform us of any concerns you have or any adjustments you might need to enable this to happen. Please contact [email protected] or 020 3469 8400 as soon as possible. 

Unfortunately, we are unable to recruit anyone below the age of 18, so that we can protect young people from health & safety and safeguarding risks.