Research Associate in Chemical Biology

About the role

The Lovell Lab, in partnership with AdvanCell, is seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Research Associate on a 24-month contract, with the possibility of a further 12-month extension. The position is available to start as soon as possible and will involve travel to Brisbane, Australia, to work with colleagues at AdvanCell.

Project Background: Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT) is an emerging and highly promising strategy for treating a range of cancers. By using targeting vectors conjugated to radionuclides, TRT delivers cytotoxic radiation directly to tumour cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissues.

This project aims to identify selective peptide binders for proteins, cells, or tissues using state-of-the-art peptide display technologies. These binders will serve as initial targeting vectors in hit-to-lead optimisation programmes to develop novel radiomedicines. The work will integrate:

• Phage or mRNA display
• Automated solid-phase peptide synthesis
• Direct-to-biology workflows
• Chemical proteomics
• Structural biology

Relevant References

• Nat. Biotechnol. 2021, 4, 490
• J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2021, 143, 8911
• J. Nucl. Med. 2025, 66, 1703

About you

Essential qualifications and experience:

• PhD in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a closely related discipline
• Demonstrated expertise with display technologies (e.g., phage display, mRNA display, DELs)
• Hands-on experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis
• Proficiency in HPLC, LC-MS, or LC-MS/MS method development
• Active interest in peptide drug discovery and cancer research

A lower grade offer may be made (Grade 6) with comparable reduction in responsibilities and amendment in job title to Research Assistant, if a suitable applicant cannot be found to fill the Grade 7 position. Applicants will need to be within six months of their course completion date and will be promoted to Research Associate once their PhD has been awarded.

Additional expectations:

• Strong organisational, communication, and teamwork skills
• Ability to work independently and solve problems proactively
• Willingness to supervise and train junior lab members
• Some laboratory management responsibilities will be included

Further information

For questions about the position, please contact Dr Scott Lovell at sdl35@bath.ac.uk

As a member of Research Staff at the University of Bath, you will be encouraged to take up a minimum of 10 days professional development pro rata per year.

We consider ourselves to be a university where difference is celebrated, respected and encouraged. We have an excellent international reputation with staff from over 60 different nations and have made a positive commitment towards gender equality and intersectionality receiving a Silver Athena SWAN award. We truly believe that diversity of experience, perspectives, and backgrounds will lead to a better environment for our employees and students and encourage applications from all genders, backgrounds, and communities, particularly from under-represented groups, and value the positive impact that will have on the university. We are committed to maintaining a safe & secure environment for our students, staff, and community by reinforcing our Safer Recruitment commitment.

We're very proud to be a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant. an accredited Disability Confident Leader; autism friendly university, committed to building disability confidence & supporting disabled staff.

What we can offer you

We're continually expanding our benefits package to better support you & enhance your experience with us and the below is just an example of some of the many great benefits we offer:

• Free counselling services through Health Assured
• Cycle to work scheme
• Electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme
• Staff discount at Team Bath gym
• Staff discounts on postgraduate tuition fees
• Staff discount on language courses
• Generous employer contributory pension schemes

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