Job description

This is an exciting opportunity to join the newly established Biological Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory led by Dr Jeannine Hess as a postdoctoral research fellow. We are a medicinal chemistry group located at the Francis Crick Institute in London, a pioneering biomedical research institute, dedicated to innovation and science. We are passionate about working at the forefront of developing new and innovative solutions to combat infectious diseases.

Our research aims to move beyond conventional drug discovery programs. We develop and apply target-based and structure-guided approaches (such as Fragment-Based Drug Discovery) and combine it with inorganic/organometallic chemistry to generate tool compounds and drug candidates with new mechanisms of action, relying on the interplay of organic moieties and inorganic counterparts.

Projects in the group are centred around new concepts to target essential microbial enzymes as a starting point for developing rationally designed metal-containing probes and antimicrobial drug candidates. We are particularly interested in understanding the role and mechanism of action of metal-containing molecules in order to tune their activity and potency in disease models. We are eager to leverage the unique features of metal centres such as their redox and/or catalytic activity in order to design antimicrobial compounds that are able to trigger metal-specific mechanisms of action under physiological conditions.

We rely extensively on state-of-the-art chemical synthesis and analytical chemistry to generate new, rationally designed compounds. You will develop a variety of approaches to design metal-containing probes with structural guidance and test their biological activity. These include but are not limited to a wide range of biophysical techniques such as differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF), ligand-based NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), in-vitro enzymatic assays and evaluation on bacterial cells. The successful candidate will collaborate widely both within the group, and across the Francis Crick Institute, King’s College London and beyond. This role would suit a team player who enjoys juggling multiple projects and building relationships across disciplines.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows are expected to lead their own projects, contribute to other projects on a collaborative basis (both in the lab and with external collaborators) and guide PhD students in their research. The ability to work in a team is essential.

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 2 years or until 5 September 2023 (in the first instance, with the possibility to extend)

This is a full-time  post - 100% full time equivalent

Key responsibilities

The position will provide you with the possibility to play a leading role in the research programme and some of the specific aims for this role are, but not limited to:  

• Conducting research in the field of medicinal inorganic/organometallic chemistry, drug discovery  
• Investigating research questions and developing specific research project(s) 
• Improving established and/or develop new protocols 
• Providing specialised advice and guidance, sharing knowledge and expertise 
• Authoring papers under guidance from the Group Leader 
• Presenting work internally and at international meetings 
• Following the Postdoctoral Training programme 
• Develop academic independence 
• Supervision of junior group members 

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.  

Skills, knowledge, and experience 

Essential criteria

1. PhD degree in synthetic organic/inorganic/organometallic chemistry*
2. Excellent skills in synthetic chemistry, purification and structural elucidation techniques
3. Passion for applying chemistry in a biological context and develop new technologies to drive science
4. Track record of writing papers as evidenced by publications or submitted manuscripts
5. Independent generation and testing of own hypotheses, while being productive and safe
6. Eagerness to pick up new techniques and teach others
7. Collaborative working within the own research group and with external collaborators
8. Strong communication and organisational skills will be essential for the role

Desirable criteria 

1. Experience in the field of medicinal inorganic chemistry
2. Experience in metal catalysis
3. Experience in photodynamic therapy
4. Experience in drug discovery and fragment-based approaches

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.