Postdoctoral position in computational chemistry and structure-based drug design

Published: 2023-04-26

The Department of Cell and Molecular Biology is organized into seven research programmes which all focus on different areas of cell and molecular biology: Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Microbiology and Immunology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Biophysics, Molecular Evolution, Molecular Systems Biology and Structural Biology. The scientific basis of what we do lies in biology, but our research overlaps with other areas such as medicine, computer science, mathematics, chemistry, engineering sciences and physics. In total, we are over 200 staff and ~60 Ph.D. students. Please read more about the department’s work at https://icm.uu.se. The position is available in Jens Carlsson’s group in the computational biology and bioinformatics programme. Jens Carlsson’s research focuses on using molecular modeling to study protein-ligand interactions, in particular G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and their interactions with drugs. The GPCR superfamily constitutes the largest group of human membrane proteins and plays key roles in physiological processes. The Carlsson group uses structure-based models to understand receptor function and to design ligands of these pharmaceutically important targets, often in close collaboration with experimental groups. The Carlsson group is an international research team and is also part of the Science for Life Laboratory (http://www.scilifelab.se/). Visit the group website for more information (www.carlssonlab.org).

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Duties
The project focuses on identification of small molecule and peptide ligands of receptors using structure-based drug design. One of the main goals of the project is to develop strategies to screen libraries of several billion molecules by combining molecular docking and machine learning. The project also involves collaborations with experimental research groups, which are focused on identifying starting points for drug discovery using large-scale virtual screening.

Requirements
PhD degree in computational chemistry or a foreign degree equivalent to a PhD degree in the same area. The degree needs to be obtained by the time of the decision of employment. Those who have obtained a PhD degree three years prior to the application deadline are primarily considered for the employment. The starting point of the three-year frame period is the application deadline. Due to special circumstances, the degree may have been obtained earlier. The three-year period can be extended due to circumstances such as sick leave, parental leave, duties in labour unions, etc.
Strong abilities in computational chemistry with experience in either virtual screening or machine learning are required. Excellent written and oral knowledge of English is required as the work takes place in an international environment. We attach great importance to personal qualities, in particular good collaborative abilities, motivation, and independence.

Additional qualifications
Experience in modelling of GPCRs, molecular docking, machine learning and scientific programming is preferred, but not required.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position of 2 years according to central collective agreement. Scope of employment 100 %. Starting date as soon as possible or as agreed. Placement: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact: Jens Carlsson, jens.carlsson@icm.uu.se, Tel: +46 (0)72 227 7976. 

Please submit your application by 17 May 2023, UFV-PA 2023/1639.

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