Postdoctoral Position for an Organic/Medicinal Chemist at University of Michigan

The Cellular Engineering and Nano-Therapeutics Laboratory in the University of Michigan, Department of Biomedical Engineering, is seeking an outstanding organic/medicinal chemist to be part of a multidisciplinary team including material scientists, pharmacologists, physicians, and engineers focusing on the development of novel therapeutics. This postdoctoral position is available immediately for one year and subject to renewal for subsequent years based on research progress and the availability of funds.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in organic or medicinal chemistry with a strong publications/patents record to document his/her expertise in: i) multistep synthesis of aromatic azo-containing molecules on analytical (<100 mg) and preparative (> 1 gm) scales, ii) protection, deprotection, and transformation of a wide range of functional groups, iii) modification of natural molecules (e.g. sugars) and chemotherapeutic agents, and iv) coupling reactions to biopolymers/particles via sophisticated techniques (e.g. click chemistry). The sought candidate should have extensive experience in purification and characterization of organic molecules using modern chromatographic and analytical techniques including NMR, LC/MS, UV, IR, and GPC; solid knowledge of computers and experience with patents/chemistry search engines; excellent communication skills in English and ability to interact effectively with other postdoctoral fellows, graduate and undergraduate students in a fast-paced environment. The sought candidate should have excellent organization and time management skills plus the ability to plan, carry out, and troubleshoot synthetic steps with minimal supervision under predetermined time frame.

Responsibilities: The primary focus of this position is the design, synthesis, and characterization of novel small molecule linkers and modified sugar-/peptide-based targeting ligands to be incorporated in polymer-drug conjugates for site-specific drug delivery. The selected candidate will be responsible for synthesis, purification, and characterization of these small organic molecules and the associated conjugates to accomplish research milestones by specific deadlines. The selected candidate will gather, summarize, and report all results on weekly basis, participate in biweekly group meetings, and interact with medical school collaborators.


Contact: Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and the names and contact information (mailing address, e-mail, and phone number) of at least three professional references preferably via e-mail to:

Mohamed E.H. El-Sayed, Ph.D.
University of Michigan
Department of Biomedical Engineering
1101 Beal Ave, Lurie Biomedical Engineering, Room 2150
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2110
E-mail: melsayed@umich.edu
Phone: (734) 615-9404
Web: www.bme.umich.edu/centlab.php

The University of Michigan is a premier research institute. The Department of Biomedical Engineering has one of the leading programs in the country with a stimulating, multidisciplinary, and highly collaborative research environment. The CENT LAB is housed in the newly-constructed Lurie Biomedical Engineering Building with state-of-the-art facilities and brand new research equipments.

Web: www.bme.umich.edu/centlab.php