Research Centre/School: School of Chemical Sciences
Level on Framework: Level 1
Post duration: Fixed Term One Year Contract

Research Career Framework

As part of this role the researcher will be required to participate in the DCU Research Career Framework http://dcu.ie/hr/ResearchersFramework/index.shtml. This framework is designed to provide significant professional development opportunities to researchers and offer the best opportunities in terms of a wider career path. DCU has a strong track record in attracting both Irish and European Union research funding under Horizon 2020 (and all previous Framework Programmes), Marie Curie Actions and Erasmus.

Dublin City University www.dcu.ie is a research-intensive, globally-engaged, dynamic institution that is distinguished both by the quality and impact of its graduates and by its focus on the translation of knowledge into societal and economic benefit. Through its mission to transform lives and societies through education, research and innovation, DCU acts as an agent of social, cultural and economic progress. DCU is Ireland’s fastest growing university, and now hosts more than 17,000 students across its three academic campuses: DCU Glasnevin Campus, DCU St Patrick’s Campus and DCU All Hallows campus.

School of Chemical Sciences

The School of Chemical Sciences, is one of Ireland's most progressive and highest achieving Schools with outstanding facilities, housed within a modern and dynamic city campus. Our goal is to develop graduates with the ability to critically evaluate, and then to solve, chemical and pharmaceutical problems, preparing the highest quality graduates capable of meeting the challenges of modern industry and research. The School is highly successful at attracting large scale research funding, with our researchers having significant roles within nationally significant university/industry collaborative initiatives and European funded Integrated Training Networks. The School of Chemical Sciences is one of the leading academic schools within DCU. The School is ranked in the top 300 chemistry schools/departments in the world (QS Rankings), a reflection of the School’s ambitious research activities and its undergraduate/postgraduate degree programmes.

Role Profile

The School is seeking to recruit a Postdoctoral Researcher in synthetic bioinorganic chemistry to work on a collaborative project on the development of new gene-directed anticancer agents in collaboration with the Synthesis and Solid-State Pharmaceutical Centre (SSPC) and Merck Sharp and Dohme (MSD) Ireland. The goal of this specific project is to develop biocompatible chelating ligands that coordinate specific metal ions and to link these to nucleic acid vectors via click chemistry. The project will provide a unique opportunity to work with a leading SFI research centre and a global pharmaceutical leader.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Postdoctoral Researcher will:

• Conduct a specified programme of research under the supervision and direction of the Principal Investigator;
• Engage in the dissemination of the results of the research in which he/she is engaged with the assistance of, and under the supervision of the Principal Investigator. This will include publication in high quality peer reviewed journals and the delivery of conference papers;
• Protect inventions and assist in the filing of patent applications under the guidance of the Principal Investigator;
• Engage in appropriate training and development opportunities as required by the Principal Investigator, the School, or the University;
• Liaise with both internal and external stakeholders including industry and academic partners/collaborators, including travel where necessary;
• Assist in identifying and developing future research and funding initiatives;
• Carry out administrative work associated with the programme of research as necessary.

Minimum Criteria

Applicants must hold a PhD in synthetic bio-inorganic chemistry and have a strong publication track record in the field of nucleic acid chemistry or in designing new metallodrug-DNA (or RNA) binding agents. A knowledge of nucleic acid click chemistry would be beneficial. An excellent track record in laboratory skills directly related to this project is essential. Excellent communication skills in English, both written and spoken, are a necessity

Candidates will be assessed on the following competencies:

Discipline knowledge and Research skills – Demonstrates knowledge of a research discipline and the ability to conduct a specific programme of research within that discipline;

Understanding the Research Environment – Demonstrates an awareness of the research environment (for example funding bodies) and the ability to contribute to grant applications; Communicating Research – Demonstrates the ability to impart their research to their peers and the wider research community (for example presenting at conferences and publishing research in relevant journals) and the potential to teach and tutor students;

Managing & Leadership skills - Demonstrates the potential to manage and lead a research project including the supervision of undergraduate students.

Mandatory Training

The post holder will be required to undertake the following mandatory compliance training: GDPR and Compliance. Other training may need to be undertaken when required.