Phd position ERC HISCORE project RU Nijmegen

Published: Friday, 01 March 2024 - 10:00 -0400

Author: Thorsten Maly

Position available for a PhD candidate at Radboud University Nijmegen

Our ERC Synergy Grant HiSCORE - Highly Informative Drug Screening by Overcoming NMR Restrictions seeks to advance hyperpolarisation, miniaturisation, parallelisation and spin dynamics, and combine these research themes for highly informative drug discovery by nuclear magnetic resonance. We believe that, eventually, magnetic resonance can provide an in-depth biophysical characterisation of drug candidates in a much shorter time than today and become a very effective platform for rapid drug discovery.

This highly interdisciplinary project is run by four laboratories (Geoffrey Bodenhausen, Arno Kentgens, Jan Korvink, and Benno Meier) in three institutions (ENS Paris, Radboud University Nijmegen, and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology). Our partners Alvar Gossert (ETH Zürich) and Claudio Dalvit (Trento) complete our team with strong expertise in magnetic resonance (MR) based drug discovery.

We invite applications from prospective PhD candidates, to be based at Radboud University, to join this ambitious research programme.

The Magnetic Resonance Research Center (MRRC) headed by Kentgens focuses on the development of hyperpolarization methodology in a microfluidic context, including advanced sample handling and use of solvents such as supercritical CO2. We will explore Overhauser DNP, rapid-melt DNP and Para Hydrogen Induced Polarization (PHIP), aiming at a generic approach for hyperpolarizing drug candidates. Further research will include the development of parallel NMR detectors, as well as methods to run experiments independently in each detector.

Our lab is part of the national NMR facility of the Netherlands (uNMR-NL), and houses a range of state-of-the-art spectrometers, including 400, 500 & 600 MHz liquid-state spectrometers, 300, 400, 600 and 850 MHz solid-state NMR spectrometers and a multipurpose liquids / solids / microimaging 950 MHz spectrometer. For the HiSCORE project, a dedicated 400 MHz WB spectrometer equipped with a 263 GHz CW oscillator is available. All spectrometers are equipped with a host of commercial and home-built probes. The hyphenation of superfluidic chromatography and NMR has been achieved. The group has unique expertise in the development of miniaturized NMR probe technology.

The MRRC invites applications of PhDs with a degree in chemistry or physics. We prefer candidates with a good team spirit, who like to work in an international environment, and can collaborate with our partner groups at the crossroads between chemistry, physics, and engineering. This PhD project will focus on the:

  • Exploration of rapid-melt DNP protocols for hyperpolarization of target molecules.
  • Development of hyperpolarization approaches for simultaneous in-line characterization of multiple samples.
  • Development and implementation of hyphenated analysis techniques for pharmaco-metabolomics.

Application procedure: For more information about this vacancy, please contact: Prof. dr. A.P.M. Kentgens, email: a.kentgens@nmr.ru.nl.

Employment conditions

Maximum salary based on a 38-hour working week

The gross starting salary amounts to €2,770 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,539 in the fourth year onwards (salary scale P).

Additional salary details

You will receive 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus.

Starting date

01-05-2024

Term of contract

You will be employed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract).

Secondary conditions of employment.

You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment and help your family settle in Nijmegen.

Other information

Working for us means getting extra days off. In case of full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the legally allotted 20.

Application procedure

Attachments to be included by applicants:
cover letter and CV and name of references
Please mention the name of the person to whom the application letter can be addressed
Prof.dr. A.P.M. Kentgens

Marian de With
Radboud University | Institute for Molecules and Materials
Management assistant MRRC
web: www.ru.nl/science/magneticresonance

Visiting address:
Heyendaalseweg 135
Postal address:
Postbox 9010 | Internal postbus 84 | 6500 GL Nijmegen

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