PhD Candidate in Chemical Biology and Chemistry (1.0 FTE)

• Employment: 1.0 FTE
• Gross monthly salary: € 2,443 - € 3,122
• Faculty of Science
• Required background: Research University Degree
• Application deadline: 21 February 2022

Antibacterial drug resistance is a pressing medical problem with potentially enormous societal implications. The exact underlying molecular mechanisms that drive resistance remain elusive and there is no solution for stopping bacteria to adopt resistant phenotypes.

As a PhD Candidate, you will work on the development of new chemical methods to study drug resistance and RNA biology. Small molecule probes will be designed and synthesized that will help to interrogate the biochemical processes involved in drug resistance with a focus on the role of RNA. Applying the probes to live cells will assist to unravel the molecular mechanisms that cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics. The ultimate goal is to translate these findings to new strategies for combating drug resistance. We are looking for candidates who are interested in the synthesis of molecular probes, the application of probes, or both.

This research combines organic synthesis and biochemical techniques, including gel electrophoresis; PCR; cell culture; and enzyme kinetics, and analytical methods such as fluorescence spectroscopy; MALDI-TOF; and HPLC. You will communicate your findings through publications in peer-reviewed journals and at international conferences. Furthermore you will be involved in training and teaching BSc and MSc students (up to 10% of your appointment).

Profile

• You should hold a Master's degree in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Life Sciences, Biochemistry, Pharmacy or related field.
• You are motivated, open minded and have a strong interest to work in an interdisciplinary research centre in a highly collaborative environment.
• Experience with organic synthesis and/or nucleic acid biochemistry would be a plus.
• Good oral and written English communication skills are essential.

We are

You will join the Physical-Organic Chemistry group at Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands) and will work with Dr Wim Velema. Our research is part of Chemistry of Complex Systems, within the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM). We are a chemical biology lab trying to decipher antibiotic resistance, with a focus on nucleic acids. We use a combination of organic chemistry, biotechnology and biochemistry to understand antibacterial resistance with the ultimate goal of developing new antibiotics. IMM is a research institute in chemistry and physics promoting interdisciplinary research. Its mission is to design and create functional molecules and materials to fundamentally understand their behaviour.

 IMM consists of 24 research groups active in fields ranging from condensed matter physics to organic chemistry and biochemistry. It focuses on fundamental research with an open eye to societal applications and trains the next generation of leaders in science and innovation. You will have the opportunity to interact with researchers at IMM and participate in institute-wide activities.

Radboud University
We want to get the best out of science, others and ourselves. Why? Because this is what the world around us desperately needs. Leading research and education make an indispensable contribution to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. This is what unites the more than 24,000 students and 5,600 employees at Radboud University. And this requires even more talent, collaboration and lifelong learning. You have a part to play!

We offer

• Employment for 1.0 FTE.
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,443 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,122 in the fourth year (salary scale P ).
• You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract).
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services . Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.
• Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 29 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions . You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.
Would you like more information?

For questions about the position, please contact Willem Velema, Assistant Professor at +31 24 365 28 70 or [email protected]

Practical information and applications
You can apply until 21 February 2022, exclusively using the button below. Kindly address your application to Willem Velema. Please fill in the application form and attach the following documents:

• A letter of motivation.
• Your CV including contact details of two academic references.

You would preferably begin employment on 1 May 2022, but later start date can be negotiated.
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