Oorspronkelijke vacature omschrijving:

Job opening: Scientist (Bio)Analytical Chemistry

About Cristal Therapeutics

Cristal Therapeutics is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing the next generation nanomedicines based on its proprietary CriPec® platform. CriPec® allows for the development of targeted nanomedicines with superior efficacy and safety profiles to treat various diseases, in particular cancer. The most advanced product in development is CPC634 which is currently in phase 2 clinical evaluation for the treatment of solid tumours. Meanwhile, the CriPec® platform is further developed for application in multiple therapeutic areas, in internal projects or in collaboration with renowned biotech and pharmaceutical companies. In the framework of an awarded European grant (the so-called European SME Innovation Associate - pilot), Cristal Therapeutics has a 1 year position for a scientist (bio)analytical chemistry. Essential is that the grant conditions state that the candidate cannot have resided in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in last three years.

The position

As scientist (bio)analytical chemistry you are responsible for establishment and qualification of mass-spectrometry imaging (MSI) techniques to evaluate CriPec® nanoparticle microlocalisation and drug release in complex biological matrices. You will be trained at the M4I division of University Maastricht (https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/research/m4i-division-imaging-mass-spectrometry) where state-of-the-art mass-spectrometry-based-molecular-imaging approaches are developed and applied for biomedical research. It will be your responsibility to apply acquired knowledge to further optimize CriPec® products and to provide (bio)analytical expertise and know-how to all ongoing and upcoming (bio)analytical work related to our innovative product developments. In your position as potential future project leader of defined projects, you will be trained to become fully responsible for the entire project from early start to meeting the deliverables within agreed timelines and budget. You will take part in various projects to identify the key analytical questions and to provide experimental expertise how to address these questions most appropriately. You will have functional relationships with our technicians and scientists in chemistry, formulation and biology, as well as other internal teams and co-development partners, including academic and industrial parties.

The challenge

In your role as scientist (bio)analytical chemistry you:

• Develop qualified MSI analytical methods to detect CriPec® and API in tumour tissue
• Obtain spatiotemporal insight in nanoparticle microdistribution at the cellular level and API release kinetics and CriPec® disintegration, in various biological matrices
• Provide pharmaceutical analytical expertise and know-how for all internal and/or external programs, including analysis of raw materials, intermediates, and CriPec® based nanomedicines

As part of your industrial training, you will be trained towards a future role as project leader and:

• Identify the key analytical questions, determine the required quality levels, select the most appropriate analytical method and CRO if appropriate for the various internal and/or external programs
• Prepare scientifically sound project plans including definition of quality criteria together with the project team (and external collaborators where applicable)
• Execute agreed project plan in line with pre-set quality levels on content, timelines and budget (including resources)

In both roles, you assure excellent communication on project status with all involved stakeholders and maintain a dynamic and focused team culture to promote successful project achievements.

The profile and grant requirements

• PhD in (bio)analytical chemistry: experience and strong affinity with mass-spectrometry-imaging based techniques are essential
• More than 5 years of experience with the design and conduct of (bio)analytical development projects
• Experience with highly sophisticated analytical methods and their applications, e.g. chromatographic methods (LC-MS, LC, SEC) and various detection techniques (UV, RI, MS, MALS)
• A solid foundation on oncology, cellular (tumour) biology and/or nanomedicines would be a strong advantage
• Strong network in (bio)analytical chemistry
• Preferably, experience with using and improving a QA/QC system, accordingly familiar with corresponding guidelines and infrastructure
• Due to EU grant regulations, the candidate has to comply with transnational mobility criteria as defined in the mobility rule of the Marie Sk?odowska Curie Actions (https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/ref/h2020/other/guides_for_applicants/h2020-guide-appl-msca-if-2018-20_en.pdf). More specifically, the researcher must move or have moved from any country to the Netherlands. The researcher cannot have resided or carried out his/her main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the three years immediately before Jan 2020.

The specific job skills

• Good communication skills
• Excellent organisation skills
• Ability to work on multiple projects under time pressure
• Analytical and creative problem-solver
• Self-starter and pro-active

The general competences

• Eager to work in a flexible environment with a pro-active, hands-on and multi-disciplinary mind-set
• Strongly goal-oriented, driven and keen to deliver on promise
• Quality awareness
• Team player, eager to contribute to the success of a small, innovative company
• Fluent in English both in word and writing

What Cristal Therapeutics offers

• Opportunity to use your talents and competences in the development of innovative drug products, and to further strengthen them
• Fast-forward industrial training, including goal-oriented project management
• A competitive remuneration package
• Opportunities to grow both from content perspective as well as on a personal level
• Work in a small team with ambitious colleagues to make worldwide collaborations successful

Please send your C.V. and motivation letter in English to the attention of Dr. Cristianne Rijcken, Founder and CSO, to email-address: vacancies@cristaltherapeutics.com before 31st July 2020.