PhD position Photopharmacology (1.0 FTE)

Department

Faculty of Science and Engineering

Organisation

Rijksuniversiteit Groningen, University of Groningen, V24.0184

Job description

Without biological membranes, there would be no life as we know it. Transport of molecules and information across these membranes is carried out by integral membrane protein channels, receptors, pumps and transporters. Living cells maintain chemical gradients and electrical potential differences across their membranes using proteins that represent the majority of all current drug targets. Therefore, membrane proteins have been the focus of intense efforts to obtain high resolution macromolecular structure information. However, the current lack of experimental methods to carry out time-resolved structural studies of membrane proteins at physiological temperatures and under physiological gradients leaves a gigantic blind spot is our mechanistic understanding.

This project is a part of an ERC-funded consortium that will address this challenge by bringing together complementary expertise in membrane protein biology, time-resolved structural studies, photochemistry and nano fabrication methods. The role of the PhD working in this position will be to design, synthesize and evaluate new light-activated molecules to deliver protein transport substrates with unprecedented efficiency. Within this team, the PhD student will be supported, among others, by a dedicated postdoc researcher with expertise in quantum chemistry for guiding the development of light-activated molecules.

Organization
The vacancy is within the newly formed Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Photopharmacology and Imaging at the Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Groningen. The ERC-funded (ERC Synergy GRAIL) project aims at providing molecular basis for the instant, photochemical release of ligands for proteins studied in unprecedented level of structural dynamics using equipment developed by the GRAIL consortium.

The University of Groningen (founded in 1614) has a long tradition of academic excellence, being one of the oldest research universities in Europe. The University is currently in or around the top 100 on several influential ranking lists. Currently approximately 34,000 students are enrolled and about 1,500 PhD students work on their theses. The city of Groningen is a historic town and among the ten biggest cities in The Netherlands. It is a vibrant student town with a direct train connection to Schiphol Airport near Amsterdam.

The Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy (GRIP) is part of the Faculty of Science and Engineering (FSE) of the University of Groningen and collaborates closely with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). The pharmaceutical and medical research within GRIP and the UMCG is very multidisciplinary. This project aims to develop light-activation processes for the emerging field of time-resolved structural biology, fitting perfectly into the fundamental and applied work performed in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Photopharmacology and Imaging at GRIP.

Requirements

We are looking for an enthusiastic and talented PhD candidate with

- a M.Sc. degree in (Synthetic) Organic Chemistry
- research experience in the field of photochemistry, photocleavable protecting groups and/or photopharmacology will be seen as a strong asset
- capacity to think analytically and creatively
- high motivation
- ability to work in an international team and collaborate with several research centres in Europe in a streamlined and professional way
- an integrative and cooperative personality with excellent communicative and social skills
- fluent proficiency in English – written and oral.

Applicants whose first language is not English must submit evidence of competency in English, please see University of Groningen’s English Language Requirements for details.

Conditions of employment

Contract length: 48 months.

We offer you in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities

- a salary of € 2,770 (salary scale PhD candidates) gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 3,539 gross per month in the fourth and final year, based on a full-time position
- a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income an 8.3% year-end bonus
- a temporary position of one year with the option of renewal for another three years; prolongation of the contract is contingent on sufficient progress in the first year to indicate that you will successfully complete your PhD thesis within the next three years. A PhD training programme is part of the agreement.

The preferred starting date is between September 1st and October 1st 2024.

Job Application

Do you want to become a member of our team? Please send your application to us, by submitting the following documents: curriculum vitae, motivation letter, names and email addresses of at least two academic references. You may apply for this position until 15 May 11:59pm / before 16 May 2024 Dutch local time (CEST) by means of the application form (click on "Apply" below on the advertisement on the university website). Applications for the position should include the following documents: - a motivation letter stating your motivation to apply for the position and your key qualities relevant for this position - an up-to-date curriculum vitae, including a publication record - contact information of two academic references. 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/about-ug/policy-and-strategy/diversity-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 We provide career services for partners of new faculty members moving to Groningen. Unsolicited marketing is not appreciated.

Additional information

For additional information, please contact:

Prof. Wiktor Szymanski, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Photopharmacology and Imaging
w.c.szymanski@rug.nl

In your application, please always include the job opening ID V24.0184

Digital application form