Postdoctoral Researcher Computational Photopharmacology (1.0 FTE)

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 postdoctoral researcher working in this position will be to provide computational support to the development of new light-activated molecules to deliver protein transport substrates with unprecedented efficiency. Within this team, the postdoctoral researcher will support a PhD student responsible for synthesis and photochemical evaluation of the designed 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 30,000 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.

We are looking for candidates who meet the following requirements

• a PhD degree in (computational) chemistry
• knowledge and skills in photochemistry and QM methods for calculating the excited state properties of molecules (TD-DFT etc.)
• a relevant publication record demonstrating your ability to publish international academic publications
• the ability to communicate verbally and in written form in English
• ability to work in an international team and collaborate with several research centres in Europe in a streamlined and professional way.

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.

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

• a salary of € 3,877 gross per month in the first year, up to a maximum of € 5,090 gross per month (salary scale 10) based on a full-time position and dependent on qualification and work experience
• excellent secondary terms of employment
• a fulltime position
• a holiday allowance of 8% gross annual income and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• participation in a pension scheme for employees
• a personal budget of € 1,000 per year for additional training and career activities
• a temporary appointment for a specified period of 12 months, with a possibility of extension.

The preferred starting date is September 1st or October 1st 2024.

Prof. dr. Wiktor Szymanski, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Photopharmacology and Imaging,   [email protected]