PhD Position in Computer-Aided Drug Design of Carbohydrate Mimics - Job Opportunity at Universität Basel

Basel, Switzerland
Full-time
Entry-level
Posted: May 6, 2025
On-site
CHF 47,000-52,000 per year (standard Swiss PhD salary scale)

Benefits

Fully funded 4-year PhD position through Swiss National Science Foundation
Access to advanced high-performance computing infrastructure
Professional development through international conferences
Location in Europe's premier biotech hub

Key Responsibilities

Lead computational design and molecular modeling of carbohydrate mimics for collectin-11 antagonist development
Conduct molecular dynamics simulations and structure-based drug design
Perform free energy calculations and develop cheminformatics workflows
Collaborate with experimental teams for compound synthesis and testing
Apply machine learning techniques to drug design optimization

Requirements

Education

Master's degree in pharmaceutical sciences, chemistry, computational biology, bioinformatics, or related field

Required Skills

Strong background in molecular modeling Excellent understanding of structural biology and molecular interactions Experience with modeling of carbohydrates and binding proteins Practical knowledge of molecular modeling tools Programming proficiency (Python, Bash) Strong problem-solving and analytical skills Communication and collaboration abilities
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Sauge AI Market Intelligence

Industry Trends

Increased focus on computational approaches in drug discovery is driving demand for specialists in computer-aided drug design, particularly in the carbohydrate therapeutics space Growing importance of machine learning integration with traditional molecular modeling approaches is reshaping the field Rising interest in targeting innate immune system components for therapeutic development represents a significant market opportunity

Role Significance

Typically part of a 5-10 person interdisciplinary research group with both computational and experimental scientists
Entry-level research position with significant autonomy in computational design decisions

Key Projects

Development of novel carbohydrate-based therapeutics for inflammatory conditions Implementation of advanced molecular modeling workflows Creation of machine learning models for drug candidate optimization

Success Factors

Strong foundation in computational chemistry and molecular modeling Ability to bridge theoretical and experimental approaches Effective communication with interdisciplinary team members Independent research capabilities with innovative problem-solving approach

Market Demand

High demand for computational drug design specialists, particularly in Switzerland's pharmaceutical hub, with strong growth projected over the next 5 years

Important Skills

Critical Skills

Molecular modeling expertise is fundamental for project success Programming skills enable development of custom computational workflows Understanding of protein-ligand interactions is essential for drug design

Beneficial Skills

Experience with machine learning applications in drug discovery Knowledge of carbohydrate chemistry Familiarity with high-performance computing environments

Unique Aspects

Rare opportunity to work at the intersection of computational chemistry and immunology
Position in Basel's pharmaceutical ecosystem offers unique industry exposure
Project combines cutting-edge computational methods with practical therapeutic development

Career Growth

4-year PhD program with potential for academic or industry transition upon completion

Potential Next Roles

Senior Computational Chemist in pharmaceutical industry Postdoctoral Researcher in academic or industrial settings Drug Discovery Team Leader Computational Biology Group Leader

Company Overview

Universität Basel

Founded in 1460, the University of Basel is Switzerland's oldest university and a globally recognized research institution, particularly strong in life sciences

Top-tier academic institution with strong industry connections in the Basel pharmaceutical hub
Central player in European pharmaceutical research and development landscape
Academic research environment with strong emphasis on innovation and international collaboration
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