Opportunities

Research Associate in Chemical Biology (two posts)

We are seeking two ambitious and creative chemical biologists to join the group of Prof Ed Tate at Imperial College and the Francis Crick Institute, with key roles in our Molecular Glue (MG) Discovery Prosperity Partnership with AstraZeneca. Up to two positions are available, starting on or before 01 October 2025.

The newly funded Molecular Glue Discovery Partnership represents an exciting new research partnership between the Francis Crick Institute and Imperial College working in close collaboration with AstraZeneca. Our aim is to unlock new principles of MG discovery, reveal novel MG biology, and exploit the revolutionary therapeutic potential of molecular glue degraders by developing systematic approaches to exploit endogenous protein degradation pathways to target intractable disease-relevant proteins or protein complexes. By combining fundamental biology with proteomics, high throughput screening, protein engineering and chemical biology approaches, we seek to discover and develop new molecular glues to induce degradation of proteins of interests through the ubiquitin proteasome system or autophagy.

Your role will be to drive discovery and medicinal chemistry optimisation of novel molecular glues, based on starting points discovered through a wide range of biochemical, computational, structural and cellular screening technologies spearheaded by the Partnership. In collaboration with the full team of the Partnership, you will determine the detailed molecular mechanism of action of these glues and unveil new modes of MG degrader activity across diverse targets and effectors (UPS, autophagy). Further details will be discussed in confidence with shortlisted candidates.

For more information, or to submit your application online, please visit: Description | Jobs | Imperial College London

Application deadline 1st May 2025. Starting on or before 1st October 2025.

Research Technician in  Bioconjugation and Mass Spectrometry

We are seeking an ambitious and creative Research Technician to join the group of Prof Ed Tate at Imperial College to support our teams working on antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and small molecule drug discovery through high-throughput intact protein mass spectrometry. 

Bioconjugation of payloads to antibodies and other biological delivery vehicles offers a unique mechanism for the targeted delivery of cytotoxic molecules selectively to diseased tissue, vastly expanding the variety of payloads which can be used in the treatments of disease. In the Tate group we work on all aspects of bioconjugate development with projects spanning payload diversification, discovery and delivery vehicle optimisation/expansion. This is a rapidly evolving field, and ADC-related spinouts from our lab have raised over $100 million in Venture investment to date (e.g. Myricx Bio, https://myricxbio.com/). We also undertake targeted covalent drug discovery, using high-throughput intact protein LC-MS as a key screening assay platform.

Your role will be to support a diverse project portfolio through design and execution of bioconjugation experiments from initial conjugation, through reaction monitoring and analysis and purification of synthesised conjugates. This role will have a focus on the use of intact protein Mass Spectrometry (MS) at our state-of-the-art Agilent Measurement Suite (https://www.imperial.ac.uk/chemistry/research/facilities/agilent-measurement-suite/) and you would also support projects using high-throughput MS screening to identify compounds which can covalently label proteins, using state of the art equipment including the Agilent RapidFire platform.

For more information, or to submit your application online, please visit: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-jobs/description/index.php?jobId=23594&jobTitle=Research+Technician+in+Bioconjugation+and+Mass+Spectrometry

Application deadline 23rd April 2025. Start date from June 2025.

Targeting Immune Recognition: Advancing Nanobody Therapeutics for Complement System Control - 1+3 [1-year MRes and 3-year PhD] studentship

In this project you will develop a nanobody-driven chemical biology platform to selectively recognise and control CR3 interactions with opsonised cells. You will engineer nanobodies that specifically target membrane-bound opsonins from complement C3 cleavage, use cutting-edge cryo-electron microscopy to study how these nanobodies interact with CR3, and develop advanced molecular probes for in-depth immune system analysis. 

You will work with the teams of Prof Doryen Bubeck (Life Sciences; https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/d.bubeck) and Prof Ed Tate (Chemistry; https://www.imperial.ac.uk/tate-group/), and in close collaboration with industry experts at our partner Apellis (https://apellis.com/), a leader in the field of complement-targeted therapies; Apellis has launched multiple marketed drugs, with several more in clinical development.

For more information, or to apply, please visit: Studentships for October 2025 entry | Research groups | Imperial College London Application Deadline: 7 April 2025

Warheads take the strain in chemoproteomics - 1+3 [1-year MRes and 3-year PhD] studentship

This project will establish novel sets of cysteine targeting warheads, notably as chiral fragments, and examine these in chemical proteomics and against single protein targets. The project will involve warhead synthesis with cutting edge synthetic methods, and screening against the proteome or isolated proteins using leading technologies. Based on the structural and reactivity differences to more typical covalent probes, we anticipate these previously unexplored classes will provide opportunities in targeting new and different functional proteins as cystine selective probes.

You will work with the teams of Professor James Bull, Professor Ed Tate, and Professor Alan Armstrong, Department of Chemistry, Imperial, Professor David Mann, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial, Dr David Hewings, and Dr Enric Ros, Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

For more information, or to apply, please visit: Studentships for October 2025 entry | Research groups | Imperial College London Application Deadline: 7 April 2025

New dimensions for covalent enantioprobe chemoproteomics - 1+3 [1-year MRes and 3-year PhD] studentship

This project will investigate new enantioprobes. Cutting edge synthetic chemistry methods, including enantioselective C–H functionalisation, will be employed to provide unprecedented enantioprobe libraries. You will apply the developed library of enantioprobes in chemoproteomics investigations using leading technologies to identify altered cysteines. The probes will also be employed against single protein targets suitable for covalent inhibitors. We anticipate these previously unexplored classes of enantioprobe will provide opportunities in targeting new and different functional proteins.

You will work with the teams of Professor James Bull and Professor Ed Tate, Department of Chemistry, Imperial.

For more information, or to apply, please visit: Studentships for October 2025 entry | Research groups | Imperial College London Application Deadline: 7 April 2025

PhD studentships 

Any students interested in pursuing postgraduate research in our group other than the studentships listed above should contact Professor Tate directly; all prospective applicants should have or expect to obtain a 1st class honours degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, biochemistry, or a closely related discipline; non-UK students must be able to obtain independent funding for their studies, e.g. via a government bursary. 

Postdoctoral opportunities

We welcome informal enquiries from potential postdoctoral fellows with outstanding research track records who are prepared to apply for independent research funding, for example from the European Union, HFSP, etc. Full assistance will be given in preparing a competitive research proposal; we have an exceptional track record in accelerating the careers of outstanding postdoctoral researchers, with six Marie Curie fellows in our lab in the past four years.