research fellow London, England
Job description
About us
The Chemistry Department at University College London is the oldest in England, and today is one of the best in the UK, being ranked 3rd in the UK for its world-leading research in REF2021. We are located in Bloomsbury, at the heart of London, and offer an exciting and vibrant environment in which to study in one of the UK's top universities. The Department of Chemistry at UCL is committed to supporting excellence in both research and teaching. The Chemistry Department has over 60 members of academic staff carrying out world-leading research. We specialise in the areas of organic synthesis, chemical biology, computational chemistry, nanotechnology, inorganic and materials chemistry, physical chemistry and chemical physics. The department has an annual research income of around £15 million, derived from many sources including the Research Councils (EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, and NERC), European Commission and a wide range of charities and industrial partners in the UK, Europe and the USA. Details about our research can be found on the departmental website http://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemistry.
About the role
The Project – Investigations into new biorthogonal reactions via untapped modes of reactivity. Applications are invited for a PDRA to work in the groups of Prof. Jamie Baker and Prof. Vijay Chudasama in the Department of Chemistry at University College London. This EPSRC funded position is available to work on the discovery and development of new biorthogonal click reactions, including their application to site-selective protein modification and the construction of next generation antibody conjugates. Bioorthogonal reactions are playing a crucial role in chemical biology research and are impacting diversely across chemistry, biology, medicine and materials science. In our highly collaborative labs, we are exploring new biorthogonal reactions to serve as enabling methodologies to facilitate diverse new applications across such areas. The post is available from 01 October 2023 and for up to 3 years. The post is a UCL grade 7 post, the salary for which ranges from £39,508 - £47,355 per annum (including London Allowance of £4,200 p.a.). Starting salary is usually £39,508 p.a. Please note, appointment at Grade 7 is dependent upon having been awarded a PhD; if this is not the case, initial appointment will be at Research Assistant Grade 6B (salary £35,702 - £37,548 per annum, including London Allowance of £4,200) with payment at Grade 7 being backdated to the date of final submission of the PhD thesis.
About you
The post holder will be required to carry out research into new biorthogonal reactions, building on enticing initial discoveries in our laboratory. This will involve the design and synthesis of reagents, investigating and optimising their biorthogonal reactivity, their stability/controlled reversibility and their application to bioconjugation. This will include exploring their application to peptide/protein modification, antibody conjugate construction and wider applications. A Job Description and Person Specification can be accessed at the bottom of this page. To apply for the vacancy please click on the 'Apply Now' button. Please include a publication list along with CV. Informal enquiries should be addressed to [email protected]. Any queries on the application process can be directed to [email protected]
What we offer
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below: • 41 Days holiday (including 27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days) • Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme • Hybrid Final Salary Pension Scheme • Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan • On-Site nursery • On-site gym • Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay • Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service • Discounted medical insurance Visit UCL Staff Rewards and Benefits to find out more.
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women. Our department holds an Athena SWAN Silver award, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.
