Summary
Applications are invited for a fully funded PhD position in Macrocyclic Kinase Inhibitor Development at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland. The position is part of the European Doctoral Network ANA-KIN, focusing on innovative approaches in chemical biology, structural biology, computational chemistry, and drug discovery to target kinase regulatory interfaces.
The selected PhD student will work on designing, synthesizing, and screening macrocyclic compounds to discover novel kinase-binding ligands with potential applications in therapeutic development.
Scholarship Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Scholarship/Position Title | PhD Position in Macrocyclic Kinase Inhibitor Development |
| Host Institution | École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) |
| Research Network | European Doctoral Network ANA-KIN |
| Position Type | Fully Funded PhD Position |
| Starting Date | First half of 2027 |
| Location | EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland |
| Salary | Approximately €60,000 per year |
| Funding Source | European Doctoral Network ANA-KIN |
Subject Area
- Combinatorial Chemistry
- Chemical Biology
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Drug Discovery
- Macrocycle Chemistry
- High-Throughput Screening
- Structural Biology
- Molecular Modelling
- Computational Chemistry
- Kinase Biology
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Candidates should be expected to obtain or already hold a Master’s degree in:
- Chemistry
- Biochemistry
- Chemical Biology
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Related disciplines
- Strong understanding of chemical biology, drug discovery, and related research areas.
- Ability to identify research questions and develop innovative scientific approaches.
- Capability to independently plan, execute, and analyze research projects.
- Good communication skills and ability to work in an interdisciplinary and international research environment.
Preferred but not mandatory experience:
- Molecular biology techniques
- Peptide synthesis
- High-throughput screening
- Laboratory automation
Scholarship Description
Macrocyclic compounds represent a promising class of drug molecules because they can interact with challenging protein surfaces that are difficult to target using conventional small molecules. This PhD project aims to discover macrocyclic ligands that bind regulatory interfaces of disease-relevant kinases.
The research activities will include:
- Designing and synthesizing diverse macrocyclic peptide and compound libraries.
- Developing and optimizing screening or selection methods.
- Screening macrocycle libraries against challenging kinase targets.
- Validating and characterizing identified kinase-binding ligands.
- Developing new technologies at the intersection of chemistry, chemical biology, and drug discovery.
As part of the ANA-KIN network, the PhD researcher will collaborate with academic and industrial partners, participate in scientific meetings, specialized training programs, and research exchanges.
Salary and Benefits
- Fully funded PhD position.
- Annual salary: approximately €60,000 per year.
- Opportunity to work in a leading international research environment at EPFL.
- Access to interdisciplinary training and collaborations with European research partners.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- A short motivation letter explaining research interests, future plans, and possible project ideas.
- Updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- List of references.
Applications should be sent to:
Prof. Christian Heinis
Email: christian.heinis@epfl.ch
Laboratory Website: EPFL Laboratory of Prof. Christian Heinis
Last Date to Apply
Open Now
