Principal Scientist

UCB - Union Chimique Belge

Slough, United Kingdom

About the role

As a Principal Scientist, you will play a key role in advancing drug discovery programs across Patient Solutions by generating critical SPR (Surface Plasmon Resonance) and biophysical assay data. You will provide scientific leadership, influence project decisions, and help shape the future of biophysical screening capabilities. You will contribute from target validation through candidate selection while driving innovation, continuous improvement, and the adoption of new technologies.

Who you will work with

You will work within the In Vitro Pharmacology organization and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary project teams across research sites. You will partner with scientists working on antibodies, small molecules, and emerging therapeutic modalities while acting as a technical expert in SPR and biophysical assays. You will also mentor junior scientists and help strengthen capabilities across the wider discovery community.

What you will do

You will design, develop, and optimize SPR and biophysical assays for therapeutic discovery programs.
You will generate binding, affinity, kinetic, competition, and epitope binning data to support decisions.
You will autonomously lead complex studies addressing challenging scientific questions and novel therapeutic modalities.
You will champion new technologies, automation solutions, and continuous improvement initiatives within the team.
You will present high-quality scientific data and influence project strategy across multidisciplinary teams.
You will mentor scientists, share expertise, and contribute to a collaborative research environment.
Provide coaching and scientific guidance to junior team members, supporting their development and contributing to a collaborative learning environment.
Where appropriate, contribute to people leadership activities, including mentoring, onboarding, and supporting the development of fellow scientists.

Interested?

For this role, we are looking for the following education, experience, and skills:

PhD, Master's degree, or equivalent experience in a relevant scientific discipline.
Extensive expertise applying SPR to antibody and/or small molecule discovery programs.
Proven experience developing, optimizing, and validating complex biophysical assays independently.
Strong understanding of drug discovery processes and therapeutic candidate progression.
Excellent communication skills with experience influencing multidisciplinary scientific teams.
Adaptable, highly organized, and enthusiastic about implementing innovative technologies and approaches.
Experience mentoring, coaching, or supporting the development of scientists is highly valued.
Previous team leadership or line management experience would be advantageous but is not essential.
Demonstrated ability to influence, guide, and develop colleagues within a scientific environment is appreciated.