Assistant Professor Medicinal Chemistry

1. Introduction

Are you ready to lead your own research group in medicinal chemistry and make a real impact on human health? As an Assistant Professor, you’ll supervise and mentor PhD candidates and teach in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Chemistry, Molecular Life Sciences and Science.

2. Job description

You will develop an independent research group to build a competitive research programme in medicinal chemistry, in which the design, synthesis and biological function of new molecules are integral elements. You will supervise and mentor PhD candidates and teach in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in Chemistry, Molecular Life Sciences and Science. An important aspect is also the acquisition of external research funding, possibly in collaboration with external academic and/or industrial partners. 

Examples of potential research lines include:

• Exploration of newly synthesised (small) molecules in modulating relevant disease targets.
• Computer-aided design of libraries of new molecules and virtual screening.
• Design and synthesis of new molecular tools for validation of unexplored biological disease targets.
• Development and use of chemical biology approaches to unravel molecular aspects of disease.
• Chemical biology strategies to identify biomarkers as diagnostic tools for particular diseases. 

3. Profile

• You have a background in chemistry or biochemistry particularly in studying and/or modulating molecular mechanisms related to illness and health, for example in neurological or immunological disorders.
• You have experience with medicinal chemistry and/or chemical biology techniques, including the synthesis of small molecules and/or biomolecules.
• You are a team-player who is willing to connect with our current scientific work in medicinal chemistry and chemical biology.
• You preferably have experience in acquiring external funding.
• You have the ability to collaborate with academic and/or industrial partners to realise a successful research programme.

4. We are

Medicinal chemistry research fits in our broader focus on chemical biology, where 12 other research groups collaborate and share excellent facilities such as NMR, MS, advanced microscopy techniques, cell culture labs and medical imaging facilities. This makes it possible to use both in vitro and in vivo biochemical approaches to study the role of target molecules in their physiological environment.  All researchers involved benefit from the many close connections between (organic) chemistry groups and research teams in the Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS), the Radboud university medical center (Radboudumc) and the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour.

You will be based at the Institute for Molecules and Materials (IMM), which is one of the research institutes of the Faculty of Science. IMM is a research institute in chemistry and physics that fosters interdisciplinarity by crossing traditional boundaries. Our mission is to create, discover, and understand processes and phenomena in atomic and molecular environments. We focus on fundamental research and explore the opportunities for societally relevant applications, thereby educating the next generation of leaders in science and innovation.

IMM distinguishes itself from similar institutes by the intense collaborations between chemists and physicists and/or experimentalists and theoreticians, and by our excellent infrastructure, including state-of-the-art chemistry and biochemistry labs, the Magnetic Resonance Research Centre, the Nanolab, the Laserlab and international user facilities such as the High Field Magnet Laboratory and the Free Electron Laser Laboratory (HFML-FELIX).

IMM provides an open and dynamic research environment in which everybody is encouraged to bring their research to full fruition. Radboud University is an equal opportunity employer, committed to building a culturally diverse intellectual community, and as such encourages applications from women and minorities. The university offers customised facilities to better align work and private life. Parents are entitled to partly paid parental leave and Radboud University staff enjoy flexibility in the way they structure their work. The university highly values the career development of its staff, which is facilitated by a variety of programmes.

5. We offer

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of one year with the prospect of an indefinite contract. 
• Your salary within salary scale 12 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Floris Rutjes. In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place in the first half of September. You will preferably start your employment 1 January 2026 or soon after that.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.