Assistant Professor Computer-Aided Drug Design

Using Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD), the candidate is able to develop new methodologies and integrate drug synthesis and molecular pharmacology activities by improving molecular understanding of ligand-protein interactions.

We are seeking an Assistant Professor to lead the Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) group within the Medicinal Chemistry division. The successful candidate will develop methodologies in molecular modeling, data management and machine learning to advance the understanding of ligand-protein interactions.

With a background in drug development, medicinal chemistry, and computational chemistry, the candidate will support research on G-Protein Coupled Receptors and Fragment-Based Drug Discovery. The role requires expertise in both ligand-based and structure-based drug discovery, and the molecular insights obtained will help guiding synthetic chemists and molecular pharmacologists through interdisciplinary collaboration within the division.

Requirements:

• Experience in developing and applying a wide variety of computational techniques (including protein structure predictions, molecular dynamics, docking, virtual screening, structural chemogenomics, machine learning, AI, free-energy perturbations, etc.)
• Data management expertise, cheminformatics and bioinformatics
• Experience in modelling of G-protein coupled receptors and enzymes
• Experience in programming and scripting.
• A strong publication record
• Good communicative skills in writing and speaking
• A track record in attracting research funding
• Leadership skills that help to lead the computer-aided drug design group
• The ability to motivate and teach graduate and undergraduate student.

We realise that each individual brings a unique set of skills, expertise and mindset. Therefore we are happy to invite anyone who recognises themselves in the profile to apply, even if you do not meet all the requirements.

As a university, we strive for equal opportunities for all, recognising that diversity takes many forms. We believe that diversity in all its complexity is invaluable for the quality of our teaching, research and service. We are always looking for talent with diverse backgrounds and experiences. This also means that we are committed to creating an inclusive community so that we can use diversity as an asset.

Salary Benefits:

A challenging position in a socially engaged organisation. At VU Amsterdam, you contribute to education, research and service for a better world. And that is valuable. So in return for your efforts, we offer you:

• a salary of minimum € 4.332,00 (Scale 11) and maximum € 6.737,00 (Scale 12) gross per month, on a full-time basis. This is based on UFO profile Lecturer / Asisstant Professor 1, Lecturer / Asisstant Professor 1, Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor 1, Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor 2. The exact salary depends on your education and experience.
• a position for at least 1 FTE. Your employment contract will initially last 18 months. Afterwards, there is a prospect of a permanent contract.

We also offer you attractive fringe benefits and regulations. Some examples:

• A full-time 38-hour working week comes with a holiday leave entitlement of 232 hours per year. If you choose to work 40 hours, you have 96 extra holiday leave hours on an annual basis. For part-timers, this is calculated pro rata.
• 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
• possibility to save holiday hours, for sabbatical leave
• solid pension scheme (ABP)
• child daycare facilities available on campus

De Boelelaan 1108