Postdoctoral Fellow: Access to covalent probes using flow photochemistry

Do you have expertise in, or passion for, novel catalytic methods for synthesis? Would you like to apply your knowledge to impact the development of novel chemical probes in a company that follows the science and turns ideas into life-changing medicines? Then AstraZeneca might be the one for you!
About AstraZeneca:
AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-centred biopharmaceutical company focusing on discovering, developing, and commercialising prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. But we’re more than a global leading pharmaceutical company. At AstraZeneca, we‘re dedicated to being a Great Place to Work and empowering employees to push the boundaries of science and fuel their entrepreneurial spirit. There’s no better place to make a difference in medicine, patients, and society.
About the Postdoc Programme:
Bring your expertise, apply your knowledge, follow the science, and make a difference. AstraZeneca’s Postdoc Programme is for self-motivated individuals looking to deliver exciting, high-impact projects in a collaborative, engaging and innovative environment. You'll work with multidisciplinary scientific teams from a diverse set of backgrounds and a world-class academic mentor specifically aligned to your project. Our postdocs are respected as specialists, encouraged to speak up, and supported to share their research at conferences, publish papers, achieve their goals and make a difference to our patients.
This is a 3-year programme, with an initial 2-year period and 1-year merit-based extension.
About the Opportunity:
In the position, you would have an excellent opportunity to acquire and hone interdisciplinary skills in emerging technologies involving automation-enabled high throughput experimentation, photoredox chemistry, flow chemistry and chemical probes which is a highly valuable set for a career in pharmaceutical industry.
Within AstraZeneca’s Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM) medicinal chemistry department, we strive to employ novel chemical methodologies and emerging technologies to support and accelerate drug discovery programs.
We are looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow who will lead a project involving high throughput experimentation to develop photoredox-mediated, catalytic methodologies to access reactive functionalities on non-planar scaffolds. Transformations would then be adopted to multistage flow chemistry allowing streamlined preparation of selective, covalent probes and further biological profiling.
You will be supervised by Mateusz Plesniak, Senior Scientist of Medicinal Chemistry at AstraZeneca. You will also receive academic guidance and mentorship from Daniele Leonori, Professor of Organic Chemistry at RWTH-Aachen University.
You will have the chance to create a high-quality publication. First, this would involve developing synthetic methodology discovered internally to yield reactive functionalities on aliphatic scaffolds and adaptation to the multistage flow chemistry. The second part involves the preparation of the library of chemical probes using the project methodology and application in selective amino acids targeting using MS-based proteomics.
Qualification, Skills & Experience:
Essential Requirements
PhD in Synthetic Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a related field
Solid background in synthetic organic chemistry, inert atmosphere techniques, purification, and structural elucidation techniques such as NMR
In-depth knowledge and understanding of photoredox catalysis and/or radical chemistry
A solid track record of research, proven by high-impact publications in peer-reviewed journals, patents and/or talks at scientific meetings



Desirable Requirements
Expertise in photoredox catalysis and/or radical chemistry
Basic knowledge of Chemical Biology principles
Knowledge or experience of flow chemistry
Proven track record of problem solving and delivery in organic chemistry/medicinal chemistry
Ability to work independently and in multidisciplinary teams, showing strong levels of collaboration and communication within teams and across departments
Strong passion for chemistry and scientific curiosity



Ready for an exciting, rewarding challenge? Apply today!