Post-doctoral assistant in molecular modeling Ghent University in Belgium

Ghent University is advertising a post-doctoral assistant in molecular modeling within the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Department EA06 – Elektronica en Informatiesystemen. The position is embedded in the BioMMedA research group and linked to the ERC Consolidator Grant PASTIME. The project focuses on theoretical and computational research at the molecular scale, with an emphasis on understanding the kinetics of molecular processes such as drug transport, protein binding, and membrane permeation.

The successful candidate will join a highly interdisciplinary environment in the newly founded Institute of Biomedical Engineering (iBME) at Ghent University. BioMMedA brings together physicists, chemists, medical doctors, biologists, and engineers working on biomedical research questions. The position includes access to state-of-the-art infrastructure through the Flemish High-Performance Computing Centre (VSC), supporting advanced simulations and high-level scientific training.

Research tasks include extending path sampling methodology to incorporate nonequilibrium kinetics, with applications to photoporation-related cell death and to improved sampling efficiency in alchemical transformations between quantum mechanical, all-atom classical, and coarse-grained models. Additional possible directions include developing new simulation methods for drug transport through cell membranes, reducing memory demands in simulations, and screening binding kinetics of candidate cancer drugs to protein binding sites with relevance for precision medicine.

The postdoctoral researcher will work under the supervision of Prof. An Ghysels. Collaboration is encouraged both locally, for example within the Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), and internationally, including links with the group of Prof. Titus van Erp at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway. A contribution to teaching may also be part of the role.

Applicants must hold a PhD in computational physics or a related field, or be close to completing the PhD before the start date. The ideal candidate combines strong theoretical physics and mathematics skills with scientific programming, algorithm development, data analysis, and experience handling large simulation datasets, preferably in Python or a similar language. Experience with statistical physics, biophysics, material physics, or molecular simulations is desirable. Knowledge of biology or chemistry is helpful but not essential.

This is a fixed-term postdoctoral contract running from 1 October 2026 until 31 August 2028, with remuneration according to salary scale PD1 to PD4. The application deadline is 31 August 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time. Applicants must apply online via the Ghent University e-recruitment system and submit a CV with publications, a motivation letter, degree documents, academic transcripts, and a PhD thesis as specified in the advert.