Medicinal Chemist (m/f/div) – Drug Discovery Antiinfectives

Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology; Hannover; Vor Ort; EUR 40.000 - 60.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A research institute in Hannover is seeking a Medicinal Chemist for drug discovery with a focus on antiinfectives. Responsibilities include developing small molecule therapeutics, analyzing structure-activity relationships, and managing a laboratory. Candidates should hold a doctorate in a related field with at least two years of relevant experience, knowledge of synthetic methods, and strong communication skills. The role offers a challenging field of activity with excellent infrastructure and remuneration in accordance with public sector agreements.

Leistungen

Excellent laboratory infrastructure

Collective agreement remuneration

Extensive qualification opportunities

Qualifikationen

• Doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or related field.
• 2+ years experience in medicinal chemistry projects.
• Strong knowledge of modern synthetic methods and purification.

Aufgaben

• Develop the antiinfectives pipeline and contribute to drug discovery.
• Analyze complex data sets to establish structure-activity relationships.
• Organize and manage the medicinal chemistry laboratory.

Kenntnisse

Project management in medicinal chemistry

Knowledge of synthetic methods

Strong communication skills

Creativity and strategic thinking

Team collaboration

Fluent English

Ausbildung

Doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry or related field

Tools

SPR technology

Fluorescence-based assays

NMR

X-ray characterization

Jobbeschreibung

Overview

Medicinal Chemist (m / f / div) – Drug Discovery Antiinfectives at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI). The position is initially limited to two years. The institute investigates the pathobiology of microorganisms and develops new natural product-based active compounds for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Responsibilities

• Play a key role in the development of the antiinfectives pipeline and contribute to discovery and development of new small molecule therapeutics and biologics.
• Focus on target-based research into new antiinfective agents (antibiotics, antifungals, and antiviral substances), including development, synthesis and optimization of biologically active small molecules with antimicrobial activity. Experience in developing biologics is welcome.
• Be part of a cross-functional project team ensuring successful delivery of hits and lead compounds for preclinical and clinical studies.
• Analyze complex data sets to establish structure-activity relationships (SAR) and structure-property relationships (SPR) for small molecules and apply data-driven insights to improve molecular properties.
• Explore new chemical modalities to improve therapeutic potential.
• Efficiently organize a medicinal chemistry laboratory, manage scientific staff and supervise daily operations.
• Maintain high scientific standards and continuously expand expertise in medicinal chemistry and antiinfectives.
• Communicate with service providers, organize contract measurements and method transfers.

Qualifications

• Above-average degree and doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, natural product chemistry, or a related field with a focus on biophysical medicinal chemistry.
• At least two years of experience in managing projects in medicinal chemistry and experience with target- and ligand-based approaches in drug discovery.
• Strong knowledge of modern synthetic methods, purification of compounds, and structural characterization.
• Solid understanding of drug discovery and development, including biology, ADME, and drug safety considerations.
• Excellent experience with biophysical assays for characterizing drug-target interactions using SPR, fluorescence-based technologies, NMR, and X-ray.
• Good understanding of the chemistry of small molecules; knowledge in fragment-based drug discovery is an advantage.
• Creativity and strategic thinking to drive innovation and promote interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Goal-oriented communication, strong initiative, determination, and ability to work in a team.
• Very good command of written and spoken English.
• Experience with functional tests in cell-free and whole-cell systems, antibacterial and antifungal tests (including minimum inhibitory concentration per EUCAST) is an advantage.

We offer

• An application-oriented and challenging field of activity with personal responsibility in a committed and innovation-oriented team.
• Excellent laboratory infrastructure.
• Remuneration in accordance with the collective agreement for the public sector (TV-L, full-time) and extensive qualification opportunities.
• The Transfer Group Antiinfectives researches promising target structures of infection-relevant pathogens for new natural product-based or synthetic active substances.
• Location in Jena on the Beutenberg Campus with access to an attractive environment and cultural activities.

Application

Please submit your complete application documents (cover letter, CV, previous work, letters of recommendation, references) via the Leibniz-HKI application portal. The call for applications ends on 28 February 2026, but applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) is an equal opportunity employer that promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion/belief, disability, age, sexual orientation, and identity.