Job Description

Looking for PhD student in Chagas disease drug disocvery

PhD Position in Drug Discovery for Chagas Disease
Area: Biochemistry & Pharmacology
University of Bern, Switzerland
The research group of Jürg Gertsch at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine (IBMM), University of Bern, is seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to join an interdisciplinary project on drug discovery for Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi). The interdisciplinary project is funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) (https://lnkd.in/dXjjTvFU) and aims to identify and validate novel drug targets and bioactive compounds using chemoproteomics, molecular biolgy and pharmacological approaches.
Project: The PhD project focuses on uncovering mechanisms of action of antichagasic natural products and therapeutic targets in T. cruzi by integrating biochemical (mode of action, CryoEM) and translational (pharmacokinetics and dynamics) approaches toward new antiparasitic strategies of Chagas disease
The project is embedded in a collaborative environment with access to state-of-the-art technologies in chemical biology, LC-MS/MS analytics, and molecular pharmacology.
Your Profile: Master’s degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, or a related field. Strong experimental background in biochemistry and molecular biology. Interest in drug discovery, parasitology, and translational research. Ideally some exposure to chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, or proteomics. Highly motivated, independent, and team-oriented. Excellent command of English
We Offer: Fully funded 4 year PhD position (SNSF project) and a structured PhD program at the GCB Bern. Interdisciplinary training at the interface of chemistry, biology, and pharmacology. Access to cutting-edge technologies and international collaborations
Application: Please submit: Motivation letter, CV and contact details of 2–3 referees to:
Prof. Dr. Jürg Gertsch, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Bern: juerg.gertsch@unibe.ch
The position is available now and will be filled as soon as possible.
About the Lab

The Gertsch lab studies molecular pharmacology and chemical biology of bioactive compounds, with a focus on lipid signaling, natural products, and translational drug discovery. The Gertsch lab has generated two successful startup companies, Synendos Therapeutics and Tasteomics.