Postdoc: Medicinal Chemistry for Synthetic Lethality (EXO1)

Universiteit Leiden; Leiden; On-site; EUR 41,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Leiden University—LACDR invites a Postdoctoral candidate to advance a medicinal chemistry/chemical biology program targeting synthetic lethality against EXO1. The role involves collaboration between pomplunlab and Sylvie Noordermeer’s group at LUMC, within a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment.

The project emphasizes covalent and non-covalent inhibitor design, cellular testing, and in vivo‑relevant optimization, with state‑of‑the‑art facilities in Leiden’s science park.

Qualifications

• PhD in medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis or chemical biology
• Strong background in structure-based drug design and organic synthesis
• Experience in chemical biology probe development or similar is a plus
• Strong publication record in peer‑reviewed journals
• Scientific curiosity, creativity, and goal‑oriented mindset
• Appreciation for interdisciplinary work and proactive collaboration
• Excellent English communication and interpersonal abilities

Responsibilities

• Develop scaffold proposals for covalent and non-covalent inhibitors
• Optimizing novel and existing compound series for cellular testing
• Develop tool compounds for cellular target engagement assays
• Advanced candidate optimization enabling in vivo studies

Skills

Structure-based drug design

Organic synthesis

Chemical biology probe development

Scientific publications

Interdisciplinary collaboration

English communication

Education

PhD in medicinal chemistry/organic synthesis/chemical biology

Tools

LCMS

NMR

Cell culture

Molecular biology lab

Automated synthesizers

Job description

Leiden University—LACDR invites a Postdoctoral candidate to advance a medicinal chemistry/chemical biology program targeting synthetic lethality against EXO1. The role involves collaboration between pomplunlab and Sylvie Noordermeer’s group at LUMC, within a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment.

The project emphasizes covalent and non-covalent inhibitor design, cellular testing, and in vivo‑relevant optimization, with state‑of‑the‑art facilities in Leiden’s science park.