Postdoctoral Research Associate in Natural Product Chemistry
Overview
The University of Oxford invites applications for a postdoctoral research position within the Oxford Martin Programme on Safer Antifungals. This initiative focuses on discovering naturally inspired products to address fungal diseases across agriculture and medicine. The appointed researcher will lead a biochemical research project investigating microscopic freshwater animals known as bdelloid rotifers, which utilize genes acquired through horizontal DNA transfer to defend against fungi.
The work takes place within an interdisciplinary team bridging Biology, Pharmacology, Chemistry, Medicine, the Ineos Oxford Institute, and Oxford University Innovation. Responsibilities include bioactivity-guided extraction and purification of antifungal compounds, structural elucidation, investigating biosynthetic origins, chemical diversification, performing biological activity and toxicity assays, and communicating findings through scientific publications and research translation efforts.
Who can apply
Applicants must hold a PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, biosynthetic chemistry, or a related chemical biology discipline, alongside strong research expertise and specialist knowledge in these areas. Candidates require prior laboratory experience in purifying chemicals from complex biological mixtures, structural elucidation for biologically active molecules, or genetic and synthetic biology approaches to natural product synthesis.
Additional expectations include the ability to show initiative in developing methodologies, excellent communication skills, and the capacity to collaborate within a multidisciplinary team while supervising others. Interest or experience in research translation and innovation is also viewed as desirable.
What you get
The position is a full-time, fixed-term contract lasting for 36 months, starting from 1 January 2027 until 31 December 2029, though applications to work over fifty percent of full-time are also welcome. The salary ranges from £39,424 to £43,984 per annum at Grade 7.
Key dates
The closing date for applications is 12.00 noon on Wednesday 11 November 2026. Interviews are likely to be scheduled for mid-November 2026.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online through the institution's e-recruitment system. Candidates are required to upload a supporting statement and a curriculum vitae as part of the submission process.
About University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. Teaching there is documented from the late eleventh century, which makes it one of the oldest universities in the world, although its exact founding date is unknown. It has no single central campus, and its buildings are spread throughout the city. Every student belongs to a college, and the colleges operate alongside the university's academic departments, which are grouped into divisions.
Source: Wikipedia