Process Chemistry Senior Investigator at University of Cape Town

• The Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) at the University of Cape Town, South Africa is seeking to appoint a Senior Investigator Project Chemist.
• The main purpose of this position is to be the lead chemist managing the process chemistry team, to optimize synthetic reactions for improved processes for the manufacture of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) using a combination of flow chemistry and batch chemistry methodology.
• The processes will be optimized for increased efficiency, with an emphasis on identifying cost competitive, more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes for APIs relevant to the local patient population.
• The project team will work in partnership with local API manufacturer, CPT Pharma, to establish proof of concept at 1kg level to assess the feasibility of commercial implementation.

Requirements of the job:

• PhD in synthetic organic chemistry or equivalent.
• Publication record demonstrating skill in process optimization.
• 4 years’ post qualification in industrial or research experience in organic synthesis or process chemistry.
• Strong track-record in team-based research.
• Comfortable working in a matrix-based organisational structure.

Responsibilities:

• Research Planning: Develop detailed experimental roadmaps, including timelines, milestones and resource needs for synthetic route development. Perform comprehensive literature analyses and competitive intelligence to identify best practice methodologies, state of the art innovations and relevant precedents.
• Draft project proposals that outline hypotheses, expected outcomes, risk assessments and alternative strategies. Identify technical risks and implement contingency plans for critical path activities.
• Coordinate procurement of reagents, equipment and consumables required for planned studies. Define goals and criteria for success aligned to program phase objectives and funder expectations.
• Research: Design robust batch and flow chemistry experiments to optimize yield, selectivity, safety and environmental impact. Evaluate reaction kinetics and thermodynamics to support scale up decisions.
• Develop purification strategies and troubleshoot separation challenges efficiently. Perform root cause analyses of failed or inconsistent reactions and implement corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate, real time electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) entries, including experimental conditions, analytical results and conclusions. Develop and validate reproducible procedures for handover to collaborators or external partners. Prepare high quality visualizations of data (graphs, schemes, tables) and professional presentations for internal project meetings and engagement with external partners. Contribute technical sections to manuscripts, reports to funders, tech transfer documentation and conference presentations.
• Training & Supervision: Provide technical and professional mentorship to junior investigators, postdocs and students. Deliver structured feedback on experimental design, safety, documentation and scientific reasoning. Develop onboarding guides, SoPs and short training modules for new team members in flow chemistry, batch chemistry or safety practices.
• Participate in internal and external training courses to maintain expertise in modern synthetic and process development methodologies. Present seminars, webinars and knowledge sharing sessions to strengthen scientific culture. Support professional growth plans for junior staff and post docs in line with UCT performance development guidelines. Formal Line Management of Junior staff members
• Operations & Administration: Manage project operations by ensuring the reagents, lab consumable, reactor spares etc. are purchased in a timely fashion in accordance with the project budget. Ensure laboratory space is compliant with H3D and UCT safety standards, including monitoring chemical inventory, waste removal, energy usage and emergency equipment.
• Support internal audits, including ELN reviews and chemical storage checks. Participate in relevant committees (selection committees, operations committee etc.) Streamline workflows by identifying inefficiencies in lab processes and proposing systemic improvements.

The annual remuneration packages for 2026, including benefits, are R 812 303 and R 955 647.

Closing date: 30 April 2026