Postdoctoral Research Associates in Oligonucleotide Chemistry (741378)

Applications are invited for 5 Research Associates to form the core of a multi-disciplinary team of synthetic chemists, chemical biologists, and data scientists supported by a £3.9M EPSRC Prosperity Partnership Award centred around the development of next generation medicines beyond Lipinski space.

FTE: 1.0 (35 hours/week)
Term: Fixed (expected end date: 30/09/2029)

Applications are invited for 5 Research Associates to work in the groups of Professors William Kerr, Glenn Burley, Nick Tomkinson and Craig Jamieson, and Drs David Lindsay and Rebecca Beveridge at the University of Strathclyde (Glasgow). The Glasgow-based Research Associates will form the core of a multi-disciplinary team of synthetic chemists, chemical biologists, and data scientists supported by a £3.9M EPSRC Prosperity Partnership Award centred around the development of next generation medicines beyond Lipinski space. This is a multi-year, collaborative endeavour with our industrial partner GSK, and has the overall objective of retooling the underpinning synthesis of oligonucleotides (ONs) and their derivatives, the development of platforms for cell targeting, and new approaches to heterobifunctional molecules. The roles will demand significant interdisciplinary working spanning the enablement of streamlined synthetic approaches to prepare ONs and heterobifunctionals, establishing a biophysical and biological evaluation platform, and generating datasets for application in AI/ML methods to direct both synthesis and biology.

The Research Associates will be tasked with developing innovative synthetic methodology to prepare ONs alongside the development of new attachment conjugation chemistries to facilitate cell targeting. The candidates appointed will be part of a team of 6 cross-discipline Research Associates supported by the award, and will form part of a wider network of PhD students based at Strathclyde and GSK whom are aligned with the programme.

The work will involve extensive collaboration between groups based in the Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry at Strathclyde led by the academics noted above. The positions will suit highly motivated synthetic chemists who have an interest in applying an understanding of kinetics and mechanism within the Chemistry-Biology-Data Analytics continuum, ultimately contributing to the development of medicines of the future.

We would expect candidates to possess a PhD in a synthetic chemistry discipline (organic, physical organic, biological, or medicinal). Expertise in the area of kinetics and mechanistic studies, collecting data through techniques such as React-IR and NMR spectroscopy, is particularly desirable. The position would require working closely with colleagues in GSK with opportunities to engage in secondments at their Stevenage site. This post is tenable for four years in total.

For any informal enquiries, contact Senior Lecturer David Lindsay (david.lindsay@strath.ac.uk).

Please click here for further details.pdf.

Advert information