Job description
“Photoresponsive molecules for biomedical applications”
Photopharmacology is a rapidly emerging field at the interface of the chemical and medical sciences aiming at high precision therapy. Being among the founding fathers of photopharmacology (together with the Trauner group, currently at UPenn), our expertise in molecular photoswitches and light-driven rotary motors gives us a unique advantage to design the smart medicine of the future. Unlike optogenetics, widely used in neuroscience relying on genetic modification of the organism, the basis for photopharmacology is the design of drugs with intrinsic switchable functions. Specifically, this means that in bioactive molecular components (common pharmaceuticals) designed with intrinsic light-switchable units, the biological activity can be switched on and off with high precision on command using light. The use of light as external trigger allows high precision activation of a drug in space and time in a non-invasive manner. This opens fascinating opportunities for precise targeting of e.g. tumors, and bacterial infections. High precision cancer chemotherapy, fighting bacterial resistance or infectious biofilms are among the prospects for future clinical applications. In a more fundamental scientific perspective control of specific pathways in complex biological networks open numerous opportunities. Our Nobel prize winning research on molecular machines (light-driven chiral molecular switches and motors) introducing directional motion at the nanoscale enabled us to explore the basic principles of photopharmacological agents. We pioneered photoswitchable antibiotics and quorum sensing molecules, interfering with bacterial communication and very recently demonstrated the regulation of the circadian clock in human cells.
The postdoc will be involved in both the design and functioning of biocompatible switches and motors and close cooperate with both PhD students in particular the development of the relevant bioassays in close cooperation with our partners. It should be emphasized that this part of the research program will build on long-standing cooperation with UMCG (Nuclear medicine /imaging, Dierkx, Elsinga, Szymanski), (Cancer Research, Helfrich), (infectious diseases), Biomedical materials/ Kolff institute) and Biochemistry/Cell biology (Kuipers).
The University of Groningen is a research university, currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists. The Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) is the largest faculty within the University, offering first-rate education and research in a wide range of science and engineering disciplines.
The mission of the Stratingh Institute for Chemistry is to perform excellent research and teaching in molecular and supramolecular chemistry. Core activities in the chemical sciences such as bioorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, molecular inorganic chemistry and molecular materials chemistry are embedded in the institute. The research programme is focused on synthesis, catalysis, functional materials, bio-organic chemistry/chemical biology and systems chemistry/complex molecular systems.
The research program of the Feringa group is focused on synthetic and physical organic chemistry. Inspired by Nature's principles of molecular assembly, recognition, transport, motion and catalysis, the goal is to exploit the full potential of synthetic chemistry to create new structures and functions. A major part of the research is directed towards dynamic molecular systems. The focus is on molecular nanoscience, novel responsive materials and photo-pharma exploring biohybrid systems, self-assembly, molecular switches and motors. A second part of the program deals with the development (and application in chemical biology) of novel stereoselective synthesis methods and asymmetric catalysis. Chirality is a leading theme and over the years a unique and broad expertise in fundamental aspects of stereochemistry has been acquired including chiroptical phenomena, chiral amplification and origin of chirality.
Qualifications
We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements:
Organisation
Conditions of employment
We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities:
The starting date is flexible, but is preferably before the end of 2024
Application
Do you meet our qualification criteria? If yes, you’re requested to upload the following documents:
You may apply for this position until 20 March 11:59pm / before 21 March 2024 Dutch local time (CET) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website).
The University of Groningen strives to be a university in which students and staff are respected and feel at home, regardless of differences in background, experiences, perspectives, and identities. We believe that working on our core values of inclusion and equality are a joint responsibility and we are constructively working on creating a socially safe environment. Diversity among students and staff members enriches academic debate and contributes to the quality of our teaching and research. We therefore invite applicants from underrepresented groups in particular to apply. For more information, see also our diversity policy webpage: https://www.rug.nl/(...)rsity-and-inclusion/
Our selection procedure follows the guidelines of the Recruitment code (NVP): https://www.nvp-hrnetwerk.nl/nl/sollicitatiecode and European Commission's European Code of Conduct for recruitment of researchers: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/charter/code
Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.
Information
For information you can contact:
Please do not use the e-mail address(es) above for applications.
Location: | Groningen - Netherlands |
---|---|
Salary: |
€3,877
+
£3,372.20 + converted salary* gross per month |
Hours: | Full Time |
Contract Type: | Fixed-Term/Contract |
Placed On: | 4th March 2024 |
Closes: | 20th March 2024 |
Job Ref: | V24.0110 |
Type / Role:
Subject Area(s):
Location(s):
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