Make your mark for patients.

We're here because we want to build the future and transform patients' lives for the better.

At UCB, our people are our experiences and achievements, our passion and drive. That's why we're looking for talented individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences - not just the best and brightest, but those who care about making a meaningful difference in the lives of patients. We promote an environment of diversity, openness, and respect where people can make valuable contributions.

An exciting journey lies ahead. Will you join us in pushing the boundaries of what's possible?

UCB is a fast-moving global biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of innovative medicines and solutions to transform the lives of people living with severe diseases affecting the immune and central nervous systems. With more than 8.000 people in approximately 40 countries, the company generated revenue of 4.2 billion in 2016. UCB invests more than 25% of revenue in cutting-edge scientific research with the objective of solving unmet patient needs. We have a passionate, long-term commitment to the discovery and development of innovative medicines that transform the lives of people with severe diseases. At UCB everything we do starts with a simple question: "How will this make a difference to the lives of people living with severe diseases?" We do that by connecting with patients and their families around the world living with the physical and social burdens of severe disease of the immune system and the central nervous system. Those connections offer new perspectives, drive innovation, and offer the hope of a new generation of therapies that will help to transform lives.

We are seeking a scientific leader experienced in the generation and application of DNA-encoded libraries to join our Discovery Science research group at UCB as Senior Principal Scientist / DNA-Encoded Library Platform Lead. This role could be located at any of our main research centres in Cambridge, Massachusetts USA, Braine l'Alleud, Belgium or Slough, United Kingdom.

Position Overview:
Reporting to the Head of Hit Discovery, the successful applicant will be a recognized expert in the field of DNA-encoded libraries with a proven track record and in-depth knowledge of the area. They will be instrumental in evolving UCB's DNA-encoded library platform with the clear objective to support project teams across our three research hubs and generate high quality hits for our therapeutic targets. The role will require extensive collaboration with scientists across our research sites, with external collaborators and CROs. An essential part of the role will be to continue to design and grow our DNA-encoded libraries capabilities and look for opportunities to innovate within this space.

Primary roles and responsibilities:

• To lead UCB's DNA-encoded library platform, including its continued strategic evolution.
• A key contact with project teams to devise selection strategies, provide expert analysis of results and deliver confirmed hits.
• Lead the chemistry efforts to design DNA-encoded libraries by working with internal and external collaborators.
• Manage the synthesis of those libraries through internal and external partners.
• Work closely with UCB computational chemists to analyse screening data and triage hits.
• Lead hit validation and hit expansion activities with both internal and external resources as appropriate.
• Collaborate with external groups for the development of novel DNA compatible reactions to expand the diversity of libraries.
• Serve as a scientific leader and expert in DNA-encoded libraries and provide recommendations regarding emerging science and external opportunities.
• Ensure optimal interaction/communication and provide updates on project status to the Discovery Science leadership team.

Candidate requirements and qualifications:

• A PhD in synthetic organic chemistry or a related field.
• In depth knowledge and 5 years' hands-on experience in all aspects of the DEL platform, including library design, synthesis, data analysis, hits selection and validation.
• Track record of successful delivery of compound libraries and/or chemistry technology platforms, utilizing internal and external resources.
• Experience with modern chemo-informatics, computational tools and scientific software in drug discovery.
• Strong track record of scientific publications and patent applications.

The ideal candidate will create effective working relationships in a matrix environment. They will also demonstrate a high level of entrepreneurship and foster can-do and can-win attitude. Excellent knowledge of verbal and written English is essential.

Interested individuals should apply online on UCB Career Website and include the following items:

• A cover letter outlining research interests and experience as well as career goals
• Curriculum Vitae
• Expected availability

About us:

At UCB, we come together every day to work, laser-focused, on a simple question: How will this create value for people living with severe diseases? By putting patients at the heart of everything we do, our approach - from discovery to development to delivery - is continuously transformed and designed around patient needs and their journey.

With a team of approximately 8,000 employees and worldwide operations in more than 40 countries, we are a global biopharmaceutical company investing more than a quarter of our revenue in cutting-edge scientific research. We are focused on addressing chronic, neurological, immunological, and bone diseases. We are looking for people with passion and empathy who develop a real understanding of patient's needs and can deliver thoughtful solutions to decisionmakers across the heath care ecosystem.

Curious to know more? Please visit our website .

The Company is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Where permitted, applicants for employment in the United States must either have received or been willing to receive a full COVID-19 vaccination by the date of hire; or, alternatively, agree to be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing, subject to religious and medical exemptions and in accordance with applicable law.