Prof. Thomas WARD

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Early Stage Researcher on the theracatproject (Bio-orthogonal catalysis for cancer therapy, ETN ref. 765497)

Development of artificial metalloenzymes that catalyze the uncaging of anticancer drugs

The bio-inorganic laboratory at the university of Basel (Switzerland) is a World-leading group in artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs). Such hybrid catalysts result from the incorporation of an organometallic fragment within a protein scaffold. The resulting ArMs catalyze a variety of bio-orthogonal transformations. Within this theracatETN project, funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020, Marie Skłodowska-Curie, programme, it is proposed to engineer ArMs to treat cancer.To achieve this ambitious goal, the successful candidate will collaborate with eight ETN partner groups both from academia and industry. The theracat ETN project aims at training the next generation of researchers in the field of in vivo bio-orthogonal catalysis.

The successful candidate will develop interdisciplinary skills including

Organic synthesis, purification and characterization

Organometallic catalysis

Recombinant protein expression and purification

Cell-culture and in vivo catalysis

Requirements

Master’s degree in chemistry with a strong background in synthesis

Multidisciplinary skills (spectroscopy, biochemistry, informatics etc.)

Good communication skills in English

Ability to maintain accurate and up-to-date laboratory records

Ability to work in a multicultural, multilingual environment

Ability to prioritize work and organize it within a project schedule

Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowship requirements

At the time of recruitment at the University of Basel, candidates must not have resided or carried out their main activity (studies or work) in Switzerland for more that 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. Furthermore, the candidate shouldbe — at the date of recruitment — an ‘early stage researcher’ (i.e. in the first four years of his/her research career and not have a doctoral degree.

We offer

Full time 3 year contract. Competitive salary and mobility allowance. Envisaged starting date: December 2018.

Stimulating, highly interdisciplinary research and high quality scientific environment.

For more details about this position and the theracatnetwork, please refer to theracat.euand http://www.chemie.unibas.ch/~ward/

Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their CV, full academic records, cover letter and two references to

thomas.ward@unibas.ch, before July 31 2018 (ref. theracat)

The University of Basel is located in the heart of Basel, one of the Europe’s most active research hubs in the Life Sciences. The department of chemistry consists of fifteen research groups with over 120 graduate students and 50 postdoctoral fellows, integrated in a state-of-the art infrastructure. Multiple opportunities for collaborations exist, thanks to the propitious environment provided by Life Science industries and academic laboratories (including the Biozentrum, the D-BSSE, the FMI, the national center of competence “Molecular Systems Engineering” etc.)