Membrane Protein Biochemist

Salary: Competitive
REF Number: v-131454-5
Consultant: Georgia Barnes
Contact: 01246 457722
Date Published: 16.06.2025
Industry: Pharmaceutical
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England
Functional Expertise: Research & Development

CK Group are working in partnership with Nxera Pharma, to recruit a Membrane Protein Biochemist, to join their Protein Sciences division.

This role is ideal for a scientist passionate about GPCRs and biochemistry of membrane proteins. It offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge drug discovery in a highly collaborative and innovative environment.

Applications are welcomed from candidates with a PhD in Biochemistry, Biophysics or similar, with proven experience in membrane protein expression and purification.

Location:

Granta Park, Cambridge.

About the role:

In this role you will focus on the expression and purification of challenging membrane proteins destined for biochemical, biophysical and structural studies to support Nxera’s structure-based drug design process.

Responsibilities

will include:

• Express and purify membrane proteins for biochemical, biophysical and structural biology applications.
• Design and engineer membrane protein expression constructs to maximise functional expression in mammalian and insect cell expression systems.
• Optimise protein expression and fine-tune protein purification workflows to obtain pure, homogeneous and stable membrane proteins.
• Biochemically and biophysically characterise purified membrane proteins using a range of analytical techniques (fSEC, DLS, SEC-MALS, DSF, FP, etc…).
• Reconstitute purified membrane proteins in membrane mimetic environments (lipid nanodiscs, liposomes, amphipols, etc…).
• Assemble and purify homogeneous and stoichiometric multi-component protein complexes.
• Keep up to date with relevant scientific literature, propose, develop, implement and optimise new methodologies in the fields of membrane protein expression, purification and biochemical characterisation.
• Prepare and effectively present results (written and oral) to project teams.
• Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and collaborate effectively with other Nxera scientists to successfully progress membrane protein targets through the Nxera structure-based drug design pipeline.
• Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory records.

Skills and Experience:

• A PhD in biochemistry, biophysics or a related discipline
• Proven molecular biology skills enabling the design and engineering of membrane protein expression constructs tailored to downstream applications.
• Proficiency in the expression of membrane proteins in mammalian and insect cells expression systems (transfection and transduction-based methods).
• Practical expertise in optimising purification protocols for membrane proteins.
• Deep understanding of what constitutes a good membrane protein sample for structural (X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM) and biophysical studies (SPR, mass spectrometry).
• Demonstrable experience in a broad range of biochemical and biophysical techniques.

Desirable:

• Ability to design and interpret protein construct optimisation using in silico methods (e.g. AlphaFold) with wet lab impact.
• Ability to effectively analyse experimental or predicted structures of membrane proteins (cryoEM, X-ray, in silico).
• Experience using molecular graphics software (e.g. Pymol, Chimera, Coot…).
• Experience with assay development and optimisation for small molecule drug discovery.
• Experience in the reconstitution of purified membrane proteins in membrane-mimetic environments.

What’s in it for you?

• State-of-the-art R&D centre located in the heart of the Cambridge science cluster.
• Competitive compensation package including discretionary cash bonuses.
• Eligible for grants of Restricted Stock Units.
• 26 days annual leave in addition to public holidays.
• Employer contribution to pension.
• Private Medical Insurance for employees and family and a cash plan for dental and optical reimbursement.
• Health and wellbeing benefits including a subsidised individual gym membership.
• Income protection to cover long term absences due to ill health.
• Group Death in Service equal to 4x basic annual salary.