Postdoctoral Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry

University of Otago; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 93,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in New Zealand is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry for a 12-month fixed-term role focusing on drug delivery strategies related to stomach cancer. Applicants should have a PhD, strong experience in synthetic organic chemistry, and excellent communication skills. The role includes independent research and student supervision, set in a supportive and diverse environment.

Qualifications

• PhD in medicinal chemistry or a related discipline required.
• Strong experience in synthetic organic chemistry is essential.
• Demonstrated expertise with HPLC and LCMS is essential.
• Experience with conjugation and/or polymer chemistry desirable.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.

Responsibilities

• Undertake independent and collaborative research.
• Assist with patent application writing and product scale-up.
• Provide expert supervision to students.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the laboratory.

Skills

Synthetic organic chemistry

Analytical chemistry techniques

Organisational skills

Communication skills

Education

PhD in medicinal chemistry or related discipline

Tools

HPLC

LCMS

Job description

About our team/Mō te tīma

The School of Pharmacy is a leading centre for pharmacy education and research in Aotearoa New Zealand. Our academic staff are internationally recognised for research excellence across pharmaceutical sciences, clinical pharmacy, and pharmacy practice. We provide a dynamic and supportive research environment with strong connections across the University of Otago and with national and international collaborators.

The role/Te mahi

We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow in Medicinal Chemistry to join our research team on a Health Research Council (HRC) funded project: “Direct-to-stomach delivery of drugs for the chemoprevention of inherited stomach cancer.”

This exciting role provides the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge drug conjugation chemistry and targeted drug delivery strategies. The Postdoctoral Fellow will:

• Undertake independent and collaborative research, including the synthesis, purification, and formulation of the drug delivery system.
• Assist with patent application writing, GMP documentation, and product scale-up.
• Provide expert supervision and support to undergraduate and postgraduate students.
• Contribute to the smooth running of the laboratory, maintaining the highest standards of health and safety.

You will work closely with Dr Jessica Fairhall and Associate Professor Allan Gamble, alongside an interdisciplinary team of collaborators from the School of Pharmacy and the Department of Biochemistry.

Your skills and experience/Kā pūkeka me kā wheako

The successful candidate will have:

• A PhD in medicinal chemistry or a related discipline (e.g., chemical biology, drug delivery).
• Strong experience in synthetic organic chemistry and purification techniques is essential.
• Demonstrated expertise with analytical chemistry techniques such as HPLC and LCMS is essential.
• Experience with conjugation and/or polymer chemistry is desirable.
• Strong organisational skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to relate to a wide range of people in a research environment.
• Commitment to working in a culturally safe and respectful manner and demonstrated understanding and appreciation of Te Ao Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles, and Pasifika values.
• An ability to work collegially and independently.

Further details/Pūroko

This is a full-time (1.0 FTE), fixed-term position available for 12 months from January 2026, located in Ōtepoti, Dunedin.

The appointment level for this role is $92,350 per annum.

The University of Otago is a workplace that values and utilises diverse and inclusive thinking, people, and behaviours. This means that we honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi and that the contributions of staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, skills, and perspectives are valued and respected.

For further information or to discuss the roles in confidence - please contact Dr Jessica Fairhall via the contact details.

Application/Tono

Applications quoting reference number 2501425 will close on Sunday, 2 November 2025.