Guy Van den Mooter

KU Leuven is offering a PhD fellowship on the synthesis and evaluation of polymers for drug coating for specific colon delivery. The project is a collaboration between the Division of Polymer Chemistry and Materials in the Department of Chemistry, led by Prof. Mario Smet, and the Division of Drug Delivery and Deposition in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, associated with Prof. Guy Van den Mooter. The work will combine polymer synthesis and molecular characterization in chemistry with assessment of the relevant material properties of the coating in pharmaceutical sciences. The research aims to develop new polymers for controlled delivery in the colon. The key design feature is the incorporation of disulfide bonds into the polymer backbone, enabling reductive degradation in the colon environment. The project includes both chain and step polymerization techniques, together with molecular-level characterization and evaluation of material performance for drug coating. KU Leuven describes itself as a highly ranked and innovative university with a strong multidisciplinary research environment. The university offers a broad range of training courses and full social and medical insurance. This is a PhD fellowship initially funded for 1 year and, after positive evaluation, extendable for up to 4 years in total. Applicants should have a master’s degree in chemistry with at least cum laude results and should have completed a master’s thesis in polymer synthesis. Excellent spoken and written English is required. The application deadline is 2026-09-30. Interested candidates should contact Prof. dr. Mario Smet at [email protected] and apply through the KU Leuven job portal using the provided application link.

KU Leuven is offering a postdoctoral researcher position focused on the synthesis and evaluation of polymers for colon-specific drug delivery. This interdisciplinary project brings together the division of Polymer Chemistry and Materials in the Department of Chemistry and the division of Drug Delivery and Deposition in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences. Synthetic work and molecular characterization will be carried out in the chemistry department, while the assessment of material properties relevant to the drug coating will be performed in the pharmaceutical sciences environment. The research centers on designing new polymers for controlled delivery in the colon. A key strategy is the incorporation of disulfide bonds into the polymer backbone, enabling reductive degradation under the colon’s negative reduction potential. The project will involve both chain polymerization and step polymerization approaches, followed by detailed characterization at the molecular level and evaluation of the resulting materials for drug-coating performance. KU Leuven presents the post in a strong multidisciplinary research setting and highlights its status as one of the world’s top 50 universities and the #1 Most Innovative University in Europe according to Reuters for four consecutive years. The university also emphasizes an inclusive environment, broad training opportunities, and full social and medical insurance. Eligibility is clearly stated: applicants should hold a PhD in chemistry, have extensive research experience in polymer synthesis, and demonstrate excellent spoken and written English. The appointment is offered for one year, with the possibility of extension for up to one additional year following positive evaluation. Interested candidates are invited to contact Prof. dr. Mario Smet ([email protected]) or Prof. dr. Guy Van den Mooter ([email protected]) for more information. The application deadline is 2026-10-15.