PhD student in Chemistry with specialization in Organic Chemistry

PhD student in Chemistry with specialization in Organic Chemistry 
The Department of Chemistry – BMC conducts research and education in analytical chemistry, biochemistry and organic chemistry. More than 100 people, including around 45 PhD students, work at the department. New employees and students are recruited from all over the world and English is the main working language. The department is located at the Biomedical Centre in Uppsala, which facilitates collaborations with research groups in biology, pharmacy, medicine and SciLifeLab and gives access to advanced infrastructure for experimental and theoretical studies. The international environment and good opportunities for interdisciplinary collaborations enables PhD students at the department to participate in relevant research projects and prepare for an international research career.

Read more about the research at The Department of Chemistry – BMC at our website. 

Project description
This project focuses on the development of novel fluorinated amino acids as a 19F-NMR probe to study protein dynamics and protein-ligand interaction to facilitate drug discovery. It is financed by SciLifeLab, and hence the work is performed in close collaboration other research teams active at Uppsala University and SciLifeLab. These contribute to the project with knowledge in synthetic organic chemistry, biochemistry, structural biology, and NMR spectroscopy. The successful candidates will become a part of an international multidisciplinary environment and will receive ample opportunities for learning, collaboration and knowledge transfer.

The objective of this specific Ph.D. project is the synthesis of fluorinated amino acids probes and the solution NMR spectroscopic investigation of these synthesized probes. The successful candidate will receive training in advanced solution NMR spectroscopy and synthetic organic chemistry, and will gain knowledge in biochemistry. The overall training is expected to provide a wide set of skills in organic chemistry, chemical biology and NMR spectroscopy.

Duties
The main duties of PhD students are to devote themselves to their research studies, which includes participating in research projects and third cycle courses. The work duties can also include teaching and other departmental duties (not more than 20 % of full time).

Requirements

• To be eligible for doctoral education, a basic higher education equivalent to at least 240 ECTS credits, including at least 60 ECTS credits at Master’s level, including an independent project equivalent to at least 15 credits, or has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way, is required. More information about the general requirements can be found here. 
• A student has special eligibility for doctoral studies in organic chemistry if s/he has passed courses of at least 90 higher education credits (or equivalent) of courses relevant to the specialization. At least 40 higher education credits must be in organic chemistry at an advanced level (second cycle). More information about the subject specific requirements can be found here. 
• Very good English proficiency in speech and writing.
• A Master degree in organic or medicinal chemistry, in pharmacy or have similar experience.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal qualities such as good collaborative skills, motivation and independence, as well as how the applicant through his/her experience and competence is judged to have the abilities necessary to develop within and acquire the doctoral education.

Additional qualifications
Knowledge and practical experience with NMR spectroscopy will be seen as very strong merit. Knowledge and practical experience with organic chemistry will be seen as a strong merit. This project requires that you are able to work independently, and that you also have excellent collaborative skills as the project will require that you are able to collaborate with scientists from other universities and industries. You should have relevant scientific experiences to the project.

The ranking of applicants will be based on undergraduate grades, on the undergraduate education profile and on any additional experience of research in areas of relevance for the research project. Such additional experience should be demonstrated and included in your application, e.g. through articles published in international peer-reviewed journals, or by employment at companies or other institutions active in the specific research field. High emphasis will be put on personal qualifications required for the project.

In filling these positions, we aim to recruit the persons who, in a combined evaluation of competence, skills and documented qualifications, are judged most suitable to carry out and develop the project-in-hand and to contributing to a positive development of the department.

Rules governing PhD students are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5, §§ 1-7 and in Uppsala University's rules and guidelines.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 § 7. Scope of employment 100%. Starting date as agreed or latest on 2025-10-01. Placement: Uppsala

For further information about the position, please contact: Ruisheng Xiong (e-mail: ruisheng.xiong@kemi.uu.se), +46736538132.

Please submit your application by July 30, 2025, UFV-PA 2025/2057.

Are you considering moving to Sweden to work at Uppsala University? Find out more about what it´s like to work and live in Sweden.