Research Associate - Data Curation

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Research Associate - Data Curation based in Portugal.

This role offers the opportunity to turn complex scientific and patent literature into high-quality, actionable intelligence for drug discovery professionals.

You will research, curate, and interpret scientific data related to emerging medicines, technologies, and drug discovery programs.

Working closely with scientific and data-focused colleagues, you will help transform primary research into accurate, structured, and accessible information.

Your expertise in chemical structures, biological data, and scientific literature will directly support better-informed R&D decisions.

The position combines scientific rigor, data curation, analytical thinking, and exposure to the evolving biopharmaceutical landscape.

You will work in a collaborative, fast-moving environment where curiosity, accuracy, accountability, and continuous learning are highly valued.

This is a fully remote contract opportunity for a scientifically minded professional who enjoys tackling complex and novel research challenges.

Accountabilities

• Conduct in-depth research, curation, and interpretation of scientific information from drug discovery-related scientific papers, patents, and other primary literature.
• Triage emerging disclosures and identify the most relevant scientific, chemical, and biological insights.
• Interpret chemical structures and biological data and translate complex findings into accurate, structured datasets.
• Maintain high standards of rigor, consistency, and accuracy across data curation, analysis, and database construction.
• Contribute to research and data-curation projects spanning different areas of drug discovery and the biopharmaceutical industry.
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of the drug discovery and development process, from target discovery through commercialization, as well as key industry players and trends.
• Collaborate with scientific and data teams across disciplines, contributing to a culture built around facts, clarity, helpfulness, teamwork, community, and accountability.
• Take on additional research, curation, and data-related responsibilities as needed to support evolving team priorities.

Requirements

• B.S., M.S., or equivalent degree in organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, or a related scientific discipline.
• 3-5 years of experience in data curation, ideally gained within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.
• Strong understanding of patent processes, patent literature, and patent databases.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret chemical structures and biological data accurately.
• Familiarity with ChemDraw or comparable chemical drawing software.
• Experience working with spreadsheets, including Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc.
• Familiarity with scientific databases and chemoinformatics resources such as PubChem, PubMed, ChEMBL, and SureChEMBL.
• Basic understanding of regulatory agencies and their databases, such as the FDA.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Exceptional attention to detail, scientific rigor, analytical thinking, and a strong commitment to accuracy.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and tackling new or ambiguous challenges with a proactive mindset.
• Digitally fluent, with an interest in software, social media, emerging technologies, and new digital platforms.
• Able to quickly develop expertise in unfamiliar scientific areas and adapt effectively within a growing organization.
• Basic knowledge of Python for data processing and automation is preferred.
• Authorized to work in Germany; visa sponsorship or work authorization support is not available.

Benefits

• Fully remote contract position with the flexibility to work from Europe/North America.
• Opportunity to contribute to meaningful scientific work supporting drug discovery and the development of new medicines.
• Exposure to cutting-edge research, emerging drug discovery technologies, scientific literature, patents, and chemoinformatics resources.
• Opportunity to work across diverse scientific and data-curation projects.
• Collaborative, interdisciplinary environment with colleagues working across scientific and data-focused functions.
• Fast-paced and growth-oriented setting offering opportunities for continuous learning and professional development.
• Opportunity to apply scientific expertise to real-world data challenges and have a direct impact on the accessibility and quality of scientific intelligence.