Strathclyde GSKStrathclyde-based Opportunities

Current opportunities

As part of our industry-based PhD programme, we can offer a number of collaborative studentships that are based at the University of Strathclyde and funded by the University, the EPSRC & GSK.

Students are co-supervised by chemistry academics and a senior chemist from GSK.

The successful candidates will be based at the University of Strathclyde and will have the opportunity to spend at least three months of the studentship at the GSK Medicines Research Centre in Stevenage, England.

For these outstanding training and development opportunities in chemistry, you will need or be in line to obtain:

  • A very good MSci or MChem degree, or equivalent, in chemistry
  • Excellent theorectical and practical skills, together with a dedicated and conscientious attitude, and the ability to provide creative and innovative solutions to complex problems
  • To be highly motivated for chemistry and broader areas of science
  • Strong communication skills

Dr David Lindsay & Professor Billy Kerr

Proposed start date: flexible

Duration of the project: 4 Years

Project Summary

The general interests of the Kerr and Lindsay laboratories cover a broad range of metal-mediated synthetic organic chemistry and, in particular, in the development of new preparative techniques, the creation of asymmetric processes, and the use of these emerging methods in total synthesis programmes.

New methods for directed C-H activation and hydrogen isotope exchange will be explored, based on state-of-the-art isotopic labelling catalyst classes developed at Strathclyde. Mechanistic investigations, blending computational studies with rigorous experimental kinetic measurements, will inform new catalyst design. Additionally, a novel study into the role of deuterium gas in the exchange process, including reactor design, will provide key insights to deliver more effective labelling of complex drug-like molecules. The new catalysts and methods that emerge will provide a range of efficient methods to access a variety of isotopically labelled drug-like entities. The main EPSRC research areas addressed are Catalysis, Computational and Theoretical Chemistry, and Synthetic Organic Chemistry.

The studentship is funded in collaboration with world-leading pharmaceutical company, GSK, with the opportunity for a secondment at GSK, Stevenage for 3 months.

The successful applicant will join an extremely motivated and industrious research team and will receive elevated levels of training in the areas of preparative chemistry, organometallic-based synthesis, reaction mechanism, computational methods, and the associated analytical/spectroscopic requirements.

Professor Craig Jamieson

Proposed start date: 1st October 2025

Duration of project: 4 Years

Project Summary

Covalent fragment-based drug discovery is recognised as a powerful approach to expedite the validation of emerging protein targets involved in the pathogenesis of disease. The proposed study aligns with the EPSRC priority area of Chemical Biology & Biological Chemistry, and aims to exploit novel reactivity and selectivity patterns identified in our laboratories using reactive groups, with particular focus on the development tuneable warheads for covalent modification of specific residues on protein targets. The approach will be exemplified using a series of workhorse protein constructs with strong disease association, and will ultimately expand the palette of available chemistries used for covalent inhibition, furnishing new tools for molecule makers in this area.

Further Information

Please submit your application by e-mail to Dr Laura C. Paterson (laura.c.paterson@strath.ac.uk), which should include:

  • Cover letter, detailing your experience and motivation for PhD studies 
  • CV with two referees details included 
  • Full transcripts from your undergraduate degree
  •  Other pertinent information (e.g., publications, awards, and other distinctions)

Please clearly state in your email to which project(s) you are applying.