Postdoc (M/F) in the synthesis chemistry of natural products and analogues

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 35 000 - 50 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A prominent research organization in France is seeking a researcher for a project focused on organic synthesis. The role involves developing synthesis techniques and requires solid knowledge and experience in organic synthesis, particularly in multi-step synthesis. Candidates should possess strong communication skills in English and the ability to supervise student internships. This is a full-time, temporary position, with responsibilities within a collaborative research project in a well-equipped laboratory.

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge and experience in organic synthesis, especially in multi-step synthesis.
• Strong writing and oral communication skills are essential.
• Good command of English is necessary.

Responsabilités

• Research and develop chemical synthesis techniques.
• Participate in and implement a research project.
• Select appropriate synthesis techniques for the project.

Connaissances

Solid knowledge and experience in organic synthesis

Experience in multi-step synthesis

Experience in natural product synthesis

Proficiency in NMR, MS, IR, UV, polarimetry

Ability to maintain a laboratory notebook

Good English (written and spoken)

Strong writing and oral communication skills

Team spirit

Description du poste

Organisation

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles Research Field Chemistry Biological sciences Pharmacological sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Country France Application Deadline 6 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

This project (funded by the Fondation de la Maison de la Chimie) aims to synthesise analogues of cannalactone, a natural strigolactone exuded by hemp and used as a rhizospheric signal. In order to prepare these compounds, methods and techniques for the synthesis and preparation of apocarotenoid-type compounds will need to be implemented and developed. It is part of a collaborative project between academic laboratories (CNRS-ICSN, Nantes University-US2B) and a private company (Hemp-it adn). Candidates are required to submit their detailed CV and two letters of reference from their supervisors online in a single PDF document.

Responsibilities

• Research, design and develop chemical synthesis techniques suited to the objectives of a scientific problem
• Participate in the development and implementation of a research project
• Select appropriate synthesis techniques; develop procedures and operating methods within the framework of a research project
• Coordinate or perform routine characterisation of prepared products
• Validate data and interpret results

Qualifications

• Ability to maintain a laboratory notebook and produce technical and scientific reports according to defined specifications.
• Ability to potentially supervise a Master's 2 student internship in 2026 and/or 2027.
• Good English (written and spoken)
• Strong writing and oral communication skills
• Team spirit

--The Institut de Chimie des Substances Naturelles is a CNRS Research Unit. The ICSSN develops activities at the interface between chemistry and biology, with natural substances as its object of study and main source of inspiration. The ICSSN is organised into four research departments and a Collections, Platforms and Scientific Services department. It is part of Paris-Saclay University, which since 2015 has brought together research and teaching institutions in the south of Paris. The ICSSN is located on the Gif-sur-Yvette campus and has around 130 staff, including approximately 80 permanent employees, spread across three buildings. Within the Chemical Biology Department, the recruited employee will join the 'Probes and Modulators for Biological Targets' team, which consists of two Engineers, six Researchers, nine Post‑doc/ fixed‑term contract engineer/doctoral students, and several interns. He/she will report to the team leader, and the project will be supervised by François‑Didier Boyer. The laboratory is equipped with all the instruments necessary to carry out the project (HPLC, automatic flash chromatography, microwave synthesis reactor, freeze dryer, rotary evaporators, vacuum pumps, standard laboratory equipment). Several analytical platforms are available on site, providing access to state‑of‑the‑art instruments: NMR (300, 400, 500 MHz), mass spectrometry (LCMS, HRMS), and X‑ray diffraction.

Experience and Skills

• Solid knowledge and experience in organic synthesis
• Experience in multi-step synthesis
• Experience in natural product synthesis is desirable
• Proficiency in tools related to the structural analysis of small molecules (NMR, MS, IR, UV, polarimetry, etc.). The candidate must be particularly skilled in the structural determination of small molecules of natural origin (MW < 1000).
• Ability to maintain a laboratory notebook and produce technical and scientific reports according to defined specifications.
• Ability to potentially supervise a Master's 2 student internship in 2026 and/or 2027.
• Good English (written and spoken)
• Strong writing and oral communication skills
• Team spirit