Postgraduate research opportunities New Iridium-catalysed Methods for the Direct Preparation of Isotopically-labelled Compounds of Pharmaceutical Importance
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Tuesday 4 March 2025
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 42 months
- Funding: Equipment costs, Home fee, Stipend, Travel costs
Overview
This project will explore new methods for direct hydrogen isotope exchange of oligonucleotides, and other heterocycles of elevated importance in drug discovery, using catalyst classes developed at Strathclyde. This will deliver flexible and powerful methods to access various pharmaceutically desired organic products and isotopically labelled late-stage candidate-type molecules. Computationally-driven methods will also be used to inform catalyst design and direct the emerging reaction scope.Eligibility
Applicants must have, or expect to obtain, a strong MChem (or equivalent) degree as a requirement of the funding.
Additionally, the position is well suited to students with significant experience in synthetic organic chemistry obtained either through industrial placement or as part of an MChem/MSci research project.
This opportunity is only open to Home and UK students.
Project Details
A fully-funded, industry-linked PhD Studentship is available in the Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry at the University of Strathclyde under the supervision of Professor William Kerr and Dr David Lindsay.
Kerr and Lindsay lead a research team at Strathclyde that has developed a range of iridium(I)-catalysed methods for Lewis base-directed ortho-C-H activation and hydrogen isotope exchange, via 5- or 6-membered cyclometallated complexes. It's now proposed that broader studies are required to further refine these methods to enhance their practical utility in the isotopic labelling of more complex molecules.
This studentship starts as soon as possible and up to October 2025. It will be conducted in partnership with world-leading pharmaceutical company, GSK. The project will appreciably extend the developing iridium catalyst systems to deliver access to a range of isotopically labelled oligonucleotide products, and other key heterocycles, of direct importance within the pharmaceutical industry.
The successful applicant will join an extremely motivated and industrious research team and will receive elevated levels of training in the areas of following areas:
- preparative chemistry
- organometallic-based synthesis
- reaction mechanism
- computational methods
- associated analytical/spectroscopic requirements
Funding details
A fully-funded, industry-linked PhD Studentship.
While there is no funding in place for opportunities marked "unfunded", there are lots of different options to help you fund postgraduate research. Visit funding your postgraduate research for links to government grants, research councils funding and more, that could be available.
Supervisors
Professor William Kerr
Associate Deputy Principal Research & Knowledge Exchange
Pure and Applied Chemistry
Apply
Please submit your application by e-mail to Dr Laura C. Paterson (laura.c.paterson@strath.ac.uk), which should include:
- a cover letter, detailing your experience and motivation for PhD studies
- a CV with two referees' details included
- full transcripts from your undergraduate degree
- other pertinent information (such as publications, awards, and other distinctions)
Number of places: 1
To read how we process personal data, applicants can review our 'Privacy Notice for Student Applicants and Potential Applicants' on our Privacy notices' web page.