Opportunities
3-year Postdoctoral Research Associate Position: Starting Jan 2025 - Covalent Macrocycles in Cancer
We are seeking an experienced peptide chemist to lead an EPSRC funded project focused on discovery of covalent macrocycles for difficult-to-drug protein targets in cancer. Using combinatorial peptide chemistry, a molecular encoding approach, and state-of-the-art robotics, you will develop large libraries of cell permeable covalent macrocycles. You will then perform affinity selections with these libraries against a range of protein-protein interactions that have important roles in the progression of various cancers. You will use chemical proteomics and a structure-guided approach to optimise hit covalent macrocycles, providing in vivo-compatible lead compounds ready for pre-clinical testing.
This research will be at the cutting-edge of chemical biology, combining peptide synthesis, mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics, display technology development, structural biology and bioinformatics. The position will suit a candidate with a PhD in Chemistry/Chemical Biology and a strong interest in peptide-based drug discovery.
Apply for the position here.
Any informal enquires should be sent to Dr Lovell: sdl35@bath.ac.uk.
Deadline: 14th October 2024
PhD Studentships
4-year GW4 MRC DTP PhD: Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance with Targeted Covalent Macrocycles
Infections with drug-resistant bacteria are major threats to human health. Discovering novel druggable targets for antimicrobial development is a pivotal task to guarantee effective future treatments. This interdisciplinary project will target WalK, a protein kinase essential for the viability of S. aureus cells. Large libraries of covalent macrocycles will be screened against WalK to identify an inhibitor. Hit-to-lead optimization will be achieved using a suite of chemical, structural and molecular methods. Finally, lead molecules will be applied in vivo using an invertebrate infection model. Ultimately, this work will provide novel antimicrobial compounds ready for pre-clinical assessment in mice.
This project is one of a number that are in competition for funding from the GW4 BioMed2 MRC Doctoral Training Partnership which is offering up to 21 studentships for entry in September 2025.
Click here for further details and to apply. Deadline - 4th November 2024
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Any students interested in pursuing postgraduate research in our group should contact Dr Lovell directly; all prospective applicants should have, or expect to obtain, a minimum 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in chemistry, biochemistry, or a very closely related discipline; non-UK students must be able to obtain independent funding for their studies, e.g. via a government bursary.
Postdoctoral Opportunities
We welcome informal enquiries from potential postdoctoral candidates with outstanding research track records who are prepared to apply for independent research funding, for example from the European Union, HFSP, Wellcome Trust, etc. Full assistance will be provided in preparing a competitive research proposal.