Postdoc Position in Carbohydrate Chemistry & Drug Design

Starting date July 2025 (or upon agreement).

The Molecular Pharmacy group at the Department ofPharmaceutical Sciences isfocused on early stages of drug discovery, includingtarget identification andvalidation, the design, screening,characterization and optimization of moleculeswith drug-like properties, and the development of novel therapeuticconcepts. The group follows a highlyintegrated and multidisciplinary approach, including drug design, compoundsynthesis and characterization, protein engineering,target preparation, assaydevelopment, and interactionanalyses.

Your position

A fully funded postdoctoral position is available from July 1, 2025 in the Molecular Pharmacy group. Research activities will involve the design of carbohydrate- based ’glycomimetic’ antagonists & the chemical synthesis of target molecules. The candidate will collaborate closely with other members of our multidisciplinary team developing novel carbohydrate- based therapeutics, and will also be responsible for supporting efforts in bioassay development.

Main project responsibilities include:

• design & synthesis of carbohydrate- based molecules (’glycomimetics’)
• characterization of intermediates & products using 1D and 2D NMR, MS, and other techniques
• supporting team members in assay development (e.g., nanoDSF, SPR, MST, ITC)
• conducting routine maintenance and troubleshooting of lab equipment
• support of day-to-day organizational and safety aspects of a laboratory
• compiling and presenting results, and writing reports
• training and supervision of junior researchers (lab courses, MSc students, internships)

Your profile

Candidates should hold a PhD degree in Chemistry or a related discipline from a recognized institution. Candidates should enjoy working in a team environment, and proficiency in English is expected. Previous experience in carbohydrate chemistry is considered advantageous.

We offer you

The position is initially funded for 2 years, with the possibility of extension; salaries are according to the guidelines of the University of Basel. The workplace is based at the Pharmazentrum of the University of Basel, a well-equipped and innovative workplace with teams researching various aspects of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

• motivation letter
• detailed CV
• short research summary of previous projects (2 pages)
• contact details for two references