Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry at University of Cape Town (Drug Discovery and Development Centre) University of Cape Town in South Africa

The Drug Discovery and Development Centre (H3D) at the University of Cape Town is offering postdoctoral fellowships in Medicinal Chemistry. H3D is Africa’s first fully integrated drug discovery and development centre, renowned for its pioneering research in malaria, tuberculosis (TB), antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and other infectious diseases. The fellowship is hosted in the Department of Chemistry and focuses on synthetic organic chemistry and medicinal chemistry, with opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research and international collaborations.

Fellows will benefit from mentorship across disciplines such as drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK), enzymology, disease-focused biology, computer-aided drug discovery (CADD), and artificial intelligence/machine learning. The position offers the chance to refine skills in structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, data analysis, and compound design, while contributing to impactful projects with real-world health outcomes.

Applicants must hold a PhD in synthetic organic or medicinal chemistry awarded within the past 3 years, demonstrate a strong publication record in multi-step organic synthesis, and must not have held a full-time permanent professional or academic post. The fellowship is valued at R367,500 to R410,000 per year (tax-free), with no additional benefits, and is renewable for a second year based on performance and funding. Fellows are required to be based in Cape Town for the duration of the appointment.

To apply, candidates should submit a single PDF including a cover letter, CV, references, and transcripts to Ms Chanté Foentjies ([email protected]), addressed to Professor Kelly Chibale. The application deadline is 28 February 2026. For more information, visit the H3D website or the provided LinkedIn posts.