Career Opportunities at Queen's

The Cochrane Lab at Queen's University Belfast (https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/persons/stephen-cochrane) are recruiting a postdoctoral-research fellow in organic synthesis (three year contract). This is to work on our ERC Starting Grant (now UKRI Guarantee funded) project NEW HOPE

(https://www.qub.ac.uk/News/Allnews/featured-research/funding-new-antibiotics.html). The successful candidate will work on development of high-throughput screening methods to identify new antibiotics. This is a a highly interdisciplinary project involving the chemical synthesis and labelling of peptides and polyprenyls, and high-throughput screening of compound libraries (in collaboration with Fundación MEDINA). The post holder will be responsible for the planning and delivery of research activity within the project so that the overall research objectives of the project are met. The post is a critical role, and as such, successful applicants will have responsibilities in independent research, supervision, planning, day to day lab management, collaborations, and outreach.

About the person:

• Candidates should have a degree in Chemistry or Medicinal Chemistry (minimum standard 2:1), and have (or be about to obtain) a PhD in Organic Chemistry.
• Experience in synthetic organic chemistry, including designing and performing multistep chemical syntheses is essential.
• Applicants should also have strong ability in the application of core analytical techniques such as 1D/2DNMR and MS to compound characterisation.
• Experience in carbohydrate synthesis, solid-phase peptide synthesis and chemical labelling of biomolecules is desirable.
• Postdoctoral research fellows in the Cochrane lab are expected to take on additional administrative and supervisory roles, including management of research group health and safety protocols and supervision of PhD students and undergraduate project students.
•  Applicants should also have excellent presentation skills (written and oral) and have a proven track record of working within established team research programs.

To be successful at shortlisting stage, please ensure you clearly evidence in your application how you meet the essential and, where applicable, desirable criteria listed in the Candidate Information.

Fixed term contract posts are available for the stated period in the first instance but in particular circumstances may be renewed or made permanent subject to availability of funding.

What we offer:

Beyond a competitive salary, the University offers an attractive benefits package including a holiday entitlement of up to 8.4 weeks a year, pension schemes and development opportunities. We support staff wellbeing with flexible working options, work-life balance initiatives and support for physical and mental health. You can find more detail on all of this and more at https://www.qub.ac.uk/directorates/HumanResources/pay-reward-andbenefits

Queen's University is committed to promoting equality of opportunity to all. We subscribe to Equality Charter Marks such as the Diversity Charter Mark NI and Athena Swan and have established staff networks such as iRise (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and International Staff Network) and PRISM (LGBTQ+) which help us progress equality.

For further information on our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, please visit www.qub.ac.uk/diversity.

Candidate Information

Information for International Applicants