Scientist - Discovery Biology, Biological Mass Spectrometry

GlaxoSmithKline; Greater London, Stevenage; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 80,000

Job description

Site Name: UK - Hertfordshire - Stevenage
Posted Date: Mar 18 2025

Scientist - Discovery Biology, Biological Mass Spectrometry

GSK is seeking a highly skilled and motivated mass spectrometrist to build, optimize, and validate biochemical and cellular assays for screening and profiling in a drug discovery setting. The successful candidate will join the Biological Mass Spectrometry group within Discovery Biology, a team of scientists who apply mass spectrometry-based capabilities in support of biology, chemical biology, and biochemistry. This position will be located in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, our UK R&D Hub.

The Biological MS group uses world-class expertise coupled with state-of-the-art technologies to explore target biology, discover and profile new molecules and understand the impact of these molecules in living systems. A successful applicant will have extensive hands-on experience with high throughput mass spectrometry and how it can be applied to cell biology and biochemistry. This person should have a demonstrated ability to think creatively to answer complex scientific questions and an interpersonal skillset suited to working and collaborating in an interdisciplinary matrix environment.

We create a place where people can grow, be their best, be safe, and feel welcome, valued and included. We offer a competitive salary, an annual bonus based on company performance, healthcare and wellbeing programmes, pension plan membership, and shares and savings programme.

We embrace modern work practises; our Performance with Choice programme offers a hybrid working model, empowering you to find the optimal balance between remote and in-office work.

In this role you will

• Collaborate with cell biology, biochemistry, and chemical biology teams to build, validate, and implement biochemical and cellular assays using mass spectrometry endpoints for activity screening, mechanism-of-action studies, and target engagement.
• Design and optimize RapidFire-MS and LC-MS workflows for the sensitive detection of compounds, metabolites, lipids, peptides, and proteins in complex biological matrixes, including automation of sample preparation and data processing protocols.
• Interface with drug discovery program teams to integrate relevant assay data into program critical path and decision making, including presenting findings to scientific partners and stakeholders.
• Evaluate and adopt novel methodologies and technologies to maintain competitive advantage in the field of mass spectrometry.
• Mentor and upskill assay scientists in principles and operation of mass spectrometry technology. Serve as subject matter expert to biochemistry and cell biology communities as needed.
• Maintain and troubleshoot high throughput mass spectrometry equipment, including embedding system suitability requirements into assay workflows.

Basic Qualifications & Skills:

• BSc or MSc in Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, Chemical Biology, or Biology with significant and varied experience working in a lab setting OR a PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Extensive hands-on experience with high throughput sampling methods (RapidFire, Echo, MALDI) coupled with mass spectrometry detection capabilities (QQQ, ToF, orbitrap) with emphasis on workflow design, method development, and system troubleshooting.
• Extensive hands-on experience with spectrum of liquid chromatography techniques (reverse-phase, ion-pairing, hydrophobic interaction).
• Proficient in the automation of sample preparation workflows for biological samples and data processing protocols for large scale mass spectrometry data sets.
• Working knowledge of enzymology and cell biology assay designs supporting compound profiling in lead discovery.

Preferred Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience with targeted, quantitative proteomic workflows.
• Experience with informatics tools for the visualization and reduction of large data sets.
• Working knowledge of the drug discovery process.

Closing Date for Applications – April 8th, 2025 (COB)

Please take a copy of the Job Description, as this will not be available post closure of the advert.

When applying for this role, please use the ‘cover letter’ of the online application or your CV to describe how you meet the competencies for this role, as outlined in the job requirements above. The information that you have provided in your cover letter and CV will be used to assess your application.

At GSK, we have bold ambitions for patients, aiming to positively impact the health of 2.5 billion people over the next 10 years. R&D is committed to discovering and delivering transformational vaccines and medicines to prevent and change the course of disease. Science and technology are coming together in a way they never have before, and we have strong tech-enabled capabilities that allow us to build a deeper understanding of the patient, human biology and disease mechanisms, and transform medical discovery. We are revolutionising the way we do R&D. We’re uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

Why GSK?

Uniting science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together.

GSK is a global biopharma company with a special purpose – to unite science, technology and talent to get ahead of disease together – so we can positively impact the health of billions of people and deliver stronger, more sustainable shareholder returns – as an organisation where people can thrive. We prevent and treat disease with vaccines, specialty and general medicines. We focus on the science of the immune system and the use of new platform and data technologies, investing in four core therapeutic areas (infectious diseases, HIV, respiratory/ immunology and oncology).

Our success absolutely depends on our people. While getting ahead of disease together is about our ambition for patients and shareholders, it’s also about making GSK a place where people can thrive. We want GSK to be a place where people feel inspired, encouraged and challenged to be the best they can be. A place where they can be themselves – feeling welcome, valued, and included. Where they can keep growing and look after their wellbeing. So, if you share our ambition, join us at this exciting moment in our journey to get Ahead Together.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are open to all talent. In the US, we also adhere to Affirmative Action principles. This ensures that all qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to neurodiversity, race/ethnicity, colour, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, disability, genetic information, military service, covered/protected veteran status or any other federal, state or local protected class*(*US only).

We believe in an agile working culture for all our roles. If flexibility is important to you, we encourage you to explore with our hiring team what the opportunities are.