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Principal Scientist Mass Spectrometry (Mechelen, BE)

On-site
  • Mechelen, Vlaams Gewest, Belgium
Research - Target Discovery & Validation

Job description

Pleased to meet you, we are Galapagos, a dynamic growing Biotech company with offices across Europe and in the US, headquartered in Mechelen, Belgium.


We’re in the business of changing lives. In our quest to discover and develop life-improving medicines we go where no one has ever gone before. In every challenge we face, we see new opportunities. We pioneer for patients. We need thought leaders and rapid thinkers, entrepreneurs in spirit and status quo-fighters. Collaborative innovators and perseverant idealists. We need the best-in-class. In other words, we need you: The ‘make-it-happener’.


We are looking for a Principal Scientist Mass Spectrometry (Mechelen, BE)


Scope of the job


You are part of a team that develops biochemical, biophysical and cellular assays to support our internal small molecule (SM) and biologics drug discovery programs.

You lead a team of Mass Spectrometry specialists covering a broad range of activities, including measuring SM and protein analytes as well as the interaction between SM and proteins using state-of-the-art equipment such as Sciex triple Quad, RapidFire, qTOF or Fusion Orbitrap. This comprises managing the team but also supporting hands-on assay development, optimizing the methodology per target, generating high quality data, analysing and communicating the data in a structured manner as a key member of discovery projects.

The Principal Scientist Mass Spectrometry is also responsible for developing the MS platform in collaboration with external companies, identifying novel binding sites in proteins via covalent approaches, support the hit identification, characterization, and optimization. You de-risk covalent drug candidates with different techniques including cell-based selectivity assays using full proteomic analysis.

Your coordination and strategic planning for our dedicated analytical team, is an enabler for continued development of our Mass Spectrometry platform, advancing Galapagos' discovery portfolio using unique insights into mode of action of our drug candidates.


Job requirements

  • PhD (biology, biochemistry, pharmacy) or equivalent through experience
  • Entrepreneur and self-driven person, motivated by the opportunity to develop a platform with high impact in drug discovery
  • Deep expertise in Mass Spectrometry. The candidate must prove knowledge in assay development, high throughput applications and complex data analysis
  • Experience in working in an industrial setting for at least 5-10 years. Knowledge of the application of proteomics in unravelling (covalent) compounds mode of action both in vitro and in a cellular context
  • Seasoned in project and stakeholder management
  • Good at troubleshooting, proactive and creative in coming up with solutions
  • Team player with good organizational skills. Capable of interact with multiple teams (modelling, bioinformatics…) in order to bring value to our drug discovery projects
  • Professional communication in English is a must, both in writing and verbal


What’s in it for you?

You will be part of a fast growing and amazing company. As ‘make-it-happener’ you will get all the support you need to make your job successful. At Galapagos we aim to recruit the best people, who stand out among their peers, with integrity and excellent interpersonal and organizational skills. Our employees are the strength behind Galapagos, a highly motivated team, eager to maintain Galapagos’ leading position and achieve breakthroughs in pharmaceutical research. Galapagos offers a competitive remuneration package and a dynamic work environment.


We are Galapagos : together we can make it happen…!

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