Publisher
source

Madeline E. Kavanagh

Just Landed

Posted Yesterday

Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Covalent Drug Development for Emerging Cancer Targets Leiden University in Netherlands

Degree Level

Postdoc

Field of study

Chemistry

Funding

Salary between €3706 and €5760 gross per month based on a full-time 38-hour appointment, plus holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, and commuting reimbursement. Initial contract is for 6 months and may be extended if additional funding is obtained and performance is satisfactory.

Deadline

Nov 20, 2026

Country flag

Country

Netherlands

University

Leiden University

Apply for this position

Keywords

Chemistry
Biology
Chemical Synthesis
Chemical Biology
Medical Science
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Structure-activity Relationship
Bioassay
Protein Degradation

Suggested positions

Publisher
source

Leiden University

Country flag

Netherlands

Leiden University / Leiden University Medical Center / Leiden Early Drug Discovery and Development (LED3) are advertising a postdoctoral position in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology focused on a synthetic lethality target . The project is described as an exciting collaboration with Sylvie Noordermeer at Leiden University Medical Center, who pioneered the discovery of the synthetic lethal nature of the target. The lab environment is presented as highly collaborative and discovery-oriented...

Chemistry
Biology
Chemical Biology
+4 more

2 weeks ago

Publisher
source

Utrecht University

Country flag

Netherlands

Utrecht University is advertising a postdoc position in medicinal chemistry within the Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery division of the Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), in collaboration with researchers at UMC Utrecht . The project focuses on the discovery and optimization of novel Piezo1 inhibitors for sickle cell disease , combining virtual screening , AI techniques , computational drug discovery , organic synthesis , and chemical biology . The successful candidate will...

Computer Science
Chemistry
Biology
+7 more

1 week ago

Publisher
source

Lund University

Country flag

Sweden

This post-doctoral fellowship at Lund University sits at the interface of organic chemistry and chemical biology . The project develops a modular chemical platform for targeted protein degradation in bacteria, using BacPROTACs as a new strategy to address antimicrobial resistance . The research centres on designing and synthesising bifunctional molecules that can recruit endogenous bacterial proteolytic machinery, including the ClpC:ClpP system, to selectively degrade essential proteins in drug-...

Chemistry
Microbiology
Organic Chemistry
+11 more

Posted Yesterday

Publisher
source

Université Paris Cité

Country flag

France

CNRS Research Director Anton Granzhan is recruiting for an 18-month postdoctoral position in bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology at LCBPT (CNRS – Université Paris Cité, Paris, France). The project builds on a recent discovery of small molecules that selectively bind DNA three-way junctions and show toxicity against certain cancer cells. The next stage is to design a new generation of macrocyclic TWJ ligands and heterobifunctional probes to investigate how these molecules act in cells. Suit...

Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Biology
+3 more

1 week ago

Publisher
source

Leiden University

Country flag

Netherlands

Leiden University is recruiting a full-time postdoctoral candidate in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology to advance a drug discovery campaign against the synthetic lethality target EXO1. The project is a collaboration between the Pomplun Lab and Sylvie Noordermeer’s group at Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), based in Leiden, Netherlands. The successful researcher will develop scaffold proposals for covalent and non-covalent inhibitors, optimize novel and existing compound series for...

Chemistry
Cancer Research
Chemical Biology
+1 more

5 days ago

About this position

This postdoctoral project at Leiden University focuses on covalent small-molecule inhibitor discovery for emerging cancer targets. The work is rooted in chemical proteomics and drug discovery for proteins involved in immune-oncology that are considered challenging to address with conventional small molecules.

The successful researcher will develop and optimize electrophilic lead compounds, then design bifunctional analogues intended to induce protein degradation. The role combines synthetic and medicinal chemistry with selectivity profiling and early functional testing, including chemoproteomics and cell-based or biochemical assays. The aim is to generate chemical tools that help validate novel cancer targets and provide leads for later-stage drug development.

The position is embedded in the Leiden Institute of Chemistry and the broader Leiden Bioscience Park environment. The group is described as interdisciplinary and collaborative, with access to synthesis capabilities and a research setting connected to the Faculty of Science. The project is supervised by Madeline E. Kavanagh, Assistant Professor of Chemical Biology.

The researcher will join a team working on targeted covalent inhibitors and chemical biology methods in a strong international research environment.

Funding details

Salary between €3706 and €5760 gross per month based on a full-time 38-hour appointment, plus holiday allowance, end-of-year bonus, pension scheme, and commuting reimbursement. Initial contract is for 6 months and may be extended if additional funding is obtained and performance is satisfactory.

What's required

Doctorate level required. Candidates should be a proficient synthetic/medicinal chemist able to design and troubleshoot synthetic routes. Prior experience in enantioselective synthesis and covalent/electrophilic functional groups is advantageous. Prior experience in small molecule drug development, SAR studies, physicochemical property optimization, and functional characterization of inhibitors in cell-based, biochemical, or biophysical assays is preferred/optional. Applicants should demonstrate commitment to rigorous scientific standards, accurate record keeping, data management, time management, ability to work independently, and the ability to write and present research in English, supported by prior publications, theses, or presentations.

How to apply

Apply via the AcademicTransfer application page. Submit a short motivation letter explaining why you apply and why you are suitable, a CV including your PhD title/date, PhD supervisor name, and any prior postdoctoral/research positions, and at least two reference letters from current and prior managers.

ApplyKite TwinLearns as you apply

Make your next move.

Prepare your application

Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.

Professors

Assistant Professor of Chemical Biology at Leiden University

University Name
Country flag

Netherlands

Research Interests

Pharmaceutical Chemistry

Chemical Biology

Structure-activity Relationship

Medical Science

Biology