Postdoctoral Research Fellow position within medicinal chemistry
Postdoc @University of Bergen posted 3 days agoJob Description
Postdoctoral Research Fellow position
At the Department of Chemistry, there is a vacancy for a postdoctoral research fellow position within medicinal chemistry. The position is for a fixed term of three years and is associated with the project “Validating fatty acid synthesis enzymes as targets for antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and other Gram-negative bacteria”, funded through the FRIPRO programme from the Research Council of Norway.
The main objective of this project is to develop potent inhibitors of two enzymes that are essential for fatty acid synthesis in bacteria to chemically validate these enzymes as targets for future antibiotics. The project has a particular focus on fueling the antibiotic drug discovery pipeline for carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We will use a structure-based approach and will explore both covalent and non-covalent inhibitors and will implement early monitoring of compound uptake into P. aeruginosa to guide the optimization process.
The project is part of an interdisciplinary collaboration between research groups across several European countries and includes experts in structure-based design, medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, and drug discovery.
About the project/work tasks
- The research area will be within the design and synthesis of small organic compounds. You will be responsible for the design of novel target compounds for synthesis, development of synthesis routes, and synthesis of the target compounds. This will be based on compounds that have been identified through either high-throughput screening, fragment-based screening or molecular design by other project members. You will be tasked with developing new synthesis routes and using these to produce compound libraries for further evaluation in various assays. An important element in the synthesis strategies will be flexibility. We plan to use the departments laboratory for automated chemistry and the national infrastructure NorHTE, which is under establishment, to optimize synthetic steps (and routes) using machine learning in closed-loop (autonomous) optimizations and for parallel synthesis.
- You will work in a team together with other synthesis- and medicinal chemists. The tasks will be varied, and you will have the opportunity to contribute to developing new solutions in a research environment focused on innovation. The project lies at the interface between chemistry and biology, and your engagement in the project and contribution to interdisciplinary communication will be important for achieving the research goals. Testing of synthesis products using biochemical assays will be performed by other project collaborators as well as external partners.
- It is expected that you will contribute to the supervision of PhD- and MSc-students and actively participate in academic activities within the group and at the Department of Chemistry.
Qualifications and personal qualities:
- Applicants must hold a degree equivalent to a Norwegian doctoral degree (PhD) within medicinal chemistry or organic synthesis. PhD-students may apply if defence of the PhD-thesis is completed by July 20th 2025. It is a condition of employment that the PhD has been awarded.
- High competence and broad experience in organic synthesis is a requirement.
- Experience with multi-step syntheses is a requirement.
- Experience with synthesis, purification and structural characterization of polyfunctional organic molecules is a requirement.
- Experience within medicinal chemistry is a requirement.
- Experience with equipment for automated synthesis is an advantage.
- Experience in molecular modelling / docking is an advantage.
- Experience from multidisciplinary projects is an advantage.
- Applicants must be able to work independently and in a structured manner and have the ability to cooperate with others. We are looking for someone that are curious and enthusiastic about their work, and that can contribute positively to an engaging and including work environment.
- Applicants must have excellent skills in oral and written English.
Personal and relational qualities will be emphasized. Research experience, ambitions and potential will also count when evaluating the candidates.
Special requirements for the position
The University of Bergen is subjected to the regulation for export control system. The regulation will be applied in the processing of the applications.
About the position of postdoctoral research fellow
The postdoctoral position is a fixed term position with the primary objective of qualifying the appointee for work in top academic positions. If the appointee lacks teaching experience, or other relevant qualifications, the employment period may be increased to until 3 years and 3 months. Teaching and other duties will in such cases be added to the position. The position may be extended by up to one year (maximum 4 years in total) if the appointee is granted externally financed research stays abroad.
For this project we plan that the person employed will spend 6-9 months (during two visits) at the Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig, Germany. This stay is pending additional funding from the Research Council of Norway, and it is a requirement that the applicant is eligible to receive such funding and willing to visit this institute on such a research stay. Individuals may not be hired for more than one fixed-term period as a postdoctoral research fellow at the same institution. In accordance with the Research Council’s rules, neither can anyone be hired more than once as an NFR-financed postdoctoral research fellow.
For postdoctoral research fellow positions associated with externally financed projects, the completion of the project proposal for the qualifying work, as well as a progress plan, will be developed in cooperation with the supervisor and head of department.
It is a requirement that the project is completed in the course of the period of employment.
We can offer
- a good and professionally stimulating working environment
- position as postdoctoral fellow (code 1352 in the basic collective agreement) and a gross annual salary of NOK 657 000 upon appointment. Further increases in salary are made according to length of service in the position. A higher salary may be considered for a particularly well-qualified applicant.
- enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- good welfare benefits
Your application must include
- a brief account of the applicant’s research interests and motivation for applying for the position.
- the names and contact information for two referees. One of these should be the main advisor from the PhD programme.
- CV (must be uploaded as a separate document, max 3 pages excluding publication list)
- transcripts and diplomas. If you have not yet completed your PhD degree, please submit a statement from your institution confirming the expected date of award of your degree. Your PhD degree must be documented with transcripts and/or diploma, alternatively a confirmation from your institution on completed degree, by 20.07.2025.
- CV must contain specified information on the applicant’s proficiency in English.
- relevant certificates/references
- list of any works of a scientific nature (publication list with links)
The application and appendices with certified translations into English or a Scandinavian language must be uploaded at Jobbnorge
General information
For further details about the position, please contact:
Professor Bengt Erik Haug, Department of Chemistry, phone: +47 55 58 34 68 / email: bengt-erik.haug@uib.no or Head of department Magne Sydnes, Department of Chemistry, phone: +47 55 58 33 60 / email: magne.sydnes@uib.no.
For HR related questions contact:
Adviser Anna Folgerø, anna.folgero@uib.no
Diversity is a strength that enables us to solve our tasks even better. UiB therefore needs qualified employees regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion, worldview, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and age.
We encourage women to apply. If multiple applicants have approximately equivalent qualifications, the rules pertaining to moderate gender quotas shall apply.
The University of Bergen applies the principle of public access to information when recruiting staff for academic positions.
Information about applicants may be made public even if the applicant has asked not to be named on the list of persons who have applied. The applicant must be notified if the request to be omitted is not met.
We encourage applicants with disabilities, immigrant backgrounds, or gaps in their CV to apply. By indicating such circumstances in your application, you may receive favourable consideration. We ensure that at least one qualified applicant from each of these groups is invited for an interview as part of our commitment to inclusivity and equal opportunity.
Further information about our employment process can be found here.
