Student Placement - Medicinal Chemistry (lab based undergraduate placement scheme)
Salary: £24,000 plus benefits
Reports to: Group Leader (Medicinal Chemistry)
Directorate: Research & Innovation
Contract: 52 week, Fixed Term Contract
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Location: CRUK Scotland institute, Glasgow (Lab based)
Closing date: Sunday 8th November 2026
About Cancer Research UK
As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.
Role Overview
Based at sites in Cambridge, the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs ~180 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds.
In this role you will support the overarching objective of CRH-TI to discover novel cancer therapeutic agents that will ultimately provide patient benefit. This will involve the prosecution of a laboratory-based project that is designed to expand the Medicinal Chemistry team’s technical capabilities.
Responsibilities
- Synthesis, purification, and analysis of novel small molecules
- Apply organic synthesis knowledge in execution of experiments and interpretation of results
- Maintain awareness of relevant current scientific literature and developments
- Provide verbal and written reports/presentations when required
- Maintain laboratory notebooks and other data to required standards
- Perform all work demonstrating due care and attention to all health and safety regulations
- Interact with colleagues in all areas of CRH-TI and provide help and assistance wherever possible
- Contribute to the day-to-day running and responsibilities of the lab
- Participate in, and report to, chemistry group meetings when required
- Contribute to design of experiments to progress the project
What are we looking for?
- Undergraduate student studying Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry or a closely related chemical science discipline who will have completed at least two years of study by August 2027.
- Ability to provide effective and timely communication of data and progress to your supervisor.
- Experience of key organic chemistry techniques including setting up and working up reactions, purification such as column chromatography, and analysis (e.g. NMR).
- Knowledge of working safely in a lab environment.
- Ability to work effectively with other members of the team and building productive relationships.
- Skills in analysis / interpretation of data and pro-actively contributing to experimental design and strategy.
- Proficiency in organising and planning your daily tasks.
What will I gain?
We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.
Additional Information
If your application is short listed, you will be invited to attend an interview (likely to be virtual).
Company Culture
Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do. We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these values to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.
- Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
- Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
- Human: Act to have a positive impact on people
- Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively
Sectors
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Sectors
Salary: £24,000 plus benefits
Reports to: Group Leader (Medicinal Chemistry)
Directorate: Research & Innovation
Contract: 52 week, Fixed Term Contract
Hours: Full-time, 35 hours per week
Location: CRUK Scotland institute, Glasgow (Lab based)
Closing date: Sunday 8th November 2026
About Cancer Research UK
As the world’s biggest medical research charity, we’ve helped bring eleven new cancer drugs to market. However, there is still an urgent need to bring more effective treatments to patients faster.
Role Overview
Based at sites in Cambridge, the CRUK Scotland Institute in Glasgow and Newcastle University, Cancer Research Horizons employs ~180 staff from both industrial and academic backgrounds.
In this role you will support the overarching objective of CRH-TI to discover novel cancer therapeutic agents that will ultimately provide patient benefit. This will involve the prosecution of a laboratory-based project that is designed to expand the Medicinal Chemistry team’s technical capabilities.
Responsibilities
- Synthesis, purification, and analysis of novel small molecules
- Apply organic synthesis knowledge in execution of experiments and interpretation of results
- Maintain awareness of relevant current scientific literature and developments
- Provide verbal and written reports/presentations when required
- Maintain laboratory notebooks and other data to required standards
- Perform all work demonstrating due care and attention to all health and safety regulations
- Interact with colleagues in all areas of CRH-TI and provide help and assistance wherever possible
- Contribute to the day-to-day running and responsibilities of the lab
- Participate in, and report to, chemistry group meetings when required
- Contribute to design of experiments to progress the project
What are we looking for?
- Undergraduate student studying Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry or a closely related chemical science discipline who will have completed at least two years of study by August 2027.
- Ability to provide effective and timely communication of data and progress to your supervisor.
- Experience of key organic chemistry techniques including setting up and working up reactions, purification such as column chromatography, and analysis (e.g. NMR).
- Knowledge of working safely in a lab environment.
- Ability to work effectively with other members of the team and building productive relationships.
- Skills in analysis / interpretation of data and pro-actively contributing to experimental design and strategy.
- Proficiency in organising and planning your daily tasks.
What will I gain?
We create a working environment that supports your wellbeing and provide a generous benefits package, a wide range of career and personal development opportunities and high-quality tools. Our policies and processes enable you to improve your work-life balance, take positive steps in your career and achieve your personal wellbeing goals.
Additional Information
If your application is short listed, you will be invited to attend an interview (likely to be virtual).
Company Culture
Our organisation values are designed to guide all that we do. We’re looking for people who can believe in and embody these values to drive forward progress against our mission to beat cancer.
- Bold: Act with ambition, courage and determination
- Credible: Act with rigour and professionalism
- Human: Act to have a positive impact on people
- Together: Act inclusively and collaboratively
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Cranleigh
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