Postdoc in Medicinal and Radiopharmaceutical chemistry

We are looking for a highly motivated and enthusiastic postdoctoral fellow at the Tracer Center Amsterdam (TCA) to work on a collaborative project focusing on the development of Positron Emission Tomography (PET) tracers for imaging neuroinflammation. The position will be placed in an interdisciplinary research setting that brings together scientists from a number of disciplines including computational chemistry, medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, radiopharmaceutical chemistry and imaging. As a postdoc in this project, your main task will be to synthesize novel ligands based on hit series from several virtual screening campaigns. You will work closely together with research technicians, who will assist with and/or execute the necessary in vitro binding assays, cell culture and in vivo experiments, as well as radiolabeling.

As a postdoc on this project you will:

• Synthesize biologically active compounds for the target of interest;
• Carry out structure-activity relationship studies;
• Work closely with our collaborators from both industry and academia;
• Present at meetings, symposia and conferences;
• Be involved in supervision of BSc and MSc students;
• Possibility to get experience in radiochemistry with carbon-11 and fluorine-18.

We invite applications from ambitious scientists, who meet the following requirements:

• A PhD degree in medicinal chemistry, radiopharmaceutical chemistry or organic chemistry;
• A strong experience in synthetic organic chemistry;
• An interest in drug/tracer development;
• Track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals;
• Good collaboration skills;
• Excellent communications skills in English, both spoken and written.

The application must include:

• A cover letter summarizing your motives for applying, your qualifications and scientific interests (max 1 page);
• CV with publication list.

• A flying start to your career in scientific research;
• Plenty of room for your drive to shape tomorrow's healthcare;
• Working on large-scale and in-house research, with motivated colleagues from all over the world;
• You will be employed by Amsterdam UMC Research BV;
• A contract for 12 months (extension possible for a maxiumum of 2 years in total);
• Salary scale 10: € 3.493 to € 5.504 gross based on full-time employment (depending on education and experience) and a year-end bonus of 8.3%. Calculate your net salary here;
• Holiday hours: 186,4 per year for fulltime and a possibility to save additional hours;
• Pension accrual with BeFrank, a modern, comprehensible and fairly priced pension;
• For >7 km each way, 100% reimbursement for public transport travel costs and, for private transport, €0.18 per km up to a maximum of 40 km each way;
• Do you prefer walking or cycling? Take advantage of our good bike scheme. Moreover, you will receive a reimbursement of €0.18 per km.

Watch this video with more information about joining Amsterdam UMC Research BV.

The department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine is, amongst others, specialized in conducting research using nuclear imaging techniques, more specifically PET. Our aim is to use PET for diagnosis of disease, treatment monitoring and patient selection. TCA develops the new PET tracers needed in the clinic for neurological and/or neurodegenerative diseases, as well as oncology, rheumatology and cardiology. The research of TCA focusses on radiochemistry methodology development, selection of biological targets and development of new PET tracers for these targets, preclinical in vivo evaluation of new PET tracers as well as good manufacturing practice (GMP) compliant synthesis of PET tracers. TCA is now located in Amsterdam UMC Imaging Center that is equipped with a brand new lab according to current state of the art. At the Imaging Center all imaging modalities are brought together and the synergy between basic research, pre-clinic and clinic will be further enhanced.

TCA collaborates with many national and international research institutes and pharmaceutical companies and is partner in many (inter)nationally funded projects, amongst others, NWO, ZON-MW, IHI, MJFF, EU and EU Marie Curie program.

Amsterdam UMC Research BV supports non-profit scientific research. In doing so, we provide researchers with everything they need to excel. Our principal investigators (PIs) and project leaders offer support in the field of project management, finance and human resources. In medical scientific research projects, legal support is also provided.

During the publication period, applications will be handled continuously. If the vacancy is filled, it will be closed prematurely.

If you have any questions about this position, please feel free to contact Johanna Stéen via j.steen@amsterdamumc.nl or Bert Windhorst via ad.windhorst@amsterdamumc.nl.

For more information about the application procedure, please contact Kim Hooijmans, Recruitment advisor, via k.i.m.hooijmans@amsterdamumc.nl.

A reference check, screening and hiring test may be part of the procedure. Read here whether that applies to you. If you join us, we ask you for a VOG (Certificate of Good Conduct).

Internal candidates will be given priority over external candidates in case of equal suitability.

Acquisition in response to this vacancy is not appreciated.