Postdoctoral Research Associate

About us

UCL School of Pharmacy is one of the world's leading centres of excellence for pharmaceutical science, education and professional engagement, ranked third in the world by QS (2025, Pharmacy and Pharmacology). The Division has a track record in high-quality research across a broad range of drug discovery, pharmacy and patient safety-related areas, and for developing spinout companies that have brought new therapeutic strategies to patients. Further information can be found on our website This is an exciting opportunity to join the lab of Dr Christopher Serpell to work on developing a new therapeutic modality which would be broadly applicable to many diseases. The project builds upon Dr Serpell's recently published work on discovery of a new set of compounds which inhibit the very challenging KRAS-G12D/RAF interaction which is a key target in oncology (Chem. Sci., 2025, 16, 113-123).

About the role

The main purpose of this position is to discover synthetic sequenced molecules which inhibit protein-protein interactions which cause cancer as part of an interdisciplinary team. This will involve synthetic organic chemistry, automated synthesis, fluorescence-activated sorting, mass spectrometry, and biochemical assays. The position will also involve working with collaborators in other universities, ensuring that research actions are coordinated and timely. • If the salary is fixed, state the actual amount - 'Salary is £44,480 per annum'. • Interview Date(s) are scheduled for: August. • This is a fixed-term role for a duration of 3 years. • Appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Grade 6B (salary £38,357 - £41,005 per annum) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD Thesis. A job description and person specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. If you have any queries about the role, please contact Dr Christopher Serpell at [email protected]. If you need reasonable adjustments or a more accessible format to apply for this job online or have any queries about the application process, please contact the HR Administrator.

About you

The successful candidate will have a PhD in the relevant area or equivalent experience, a track record of conducting chemical research at an internationally recognised level, excellent communication skills, and aptitude for working within a research group and making a positive contribution to the team culture. Professionalism and proactivity are essential. Expertise in organic chemistry is essential, since you will be expected to conduct synthesis efficiently, enabling progression to the discovery stages of the project. Additional expertise in solid-phase synthesis, nucleic acid chemistry, advanced mass spectrometry, protein expression, flow cytometry, or biochemical assays is desirable, but training in some of these areas will be provided where needed to a successful candidate who demonstrates aptitude for acquiring new skills.

What we offer

The UCL Ways of Working supports colleagues to be successful and happy at UCL through sharing expectations around how we work - please to find out more. As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: • 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) • Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme • Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE) • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan • Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts • On-Site nursery • On-site gym • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service • Discounted medical insurance Visit to find out more.

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce. Our division holds an Athena SWAN Bronze award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality. You can read more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: