Senior Research Associate in Synthetic Chemistry
Chemistry
Location: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK | Salary: £39,906 to £46,049 (Full‑Time/Indefinite with End Date) | Closing Date: Sunday 12 April 2026 | Interview Date: Thursday 30 April 2026 | Reference: 0212-26
The Department of Chemistry at Lancaster University is seeking to appoint a full‑time Senior Research Associate in Synthetic Chemistry in the group of Dr M Paz Muñoz, for a 14‑month Leverhulme Trust‑funded project: i‑motif DNA based asymmetric catalysis with gold carbenes.
You will be involved in the development of novel i‑motif DNA‑Au carbene hybrids for enantioselective Au catalysis using the inherent chirality of DNA to induce asymmetry. Key objectives will involve the synthesis of b‑N‑stabilised Au carbenes from N‑heterocyclic containing allenes, and their application in DNA‑based asymmetric catalysis for the synthesis of products relevant for drug discovery in high enantiomeric purity.
You will also be expected to collaborate with the group of Prof Zoë Waller at UCL, a Professor of Drug Discovery and Head of the Research Department of Pharmaceutical and Biological Chemistry in the School of Pharmacy at UCL, and a world‑leading expert in drug‑nucleic acid interactions and alternative DNA structures with applications in medicine and nanotechnology.
About You
* Have a PhD in Chemistry or a related subject.
* Have experience in experimental organometallic chemistry.
* Be able to demonstrate a publication record of research in a relevant area appropriate to career stage.
The Benefits Of The Role
* Generous holiday leave – 25 days (pro‑rata) annual leave plus University closure days and bank holidays.
* Access to employee pension scheme and annual flexible benefits scheme.
* Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion across the Faculty, with family‑friendly and flexible working policies. The Department holds an Athena Swan Bronze Award.
* Support for professional and career development – the university is committed to the principles of the Concordat.
The Department of Chemistry was re‑opened in 2012 and has undergone rapid expansion and development. It consists of a core complement of more than 20 members of academic staff and a thriving community of post‑doctoral researchers, PGR and UG students. It ranks highly in the UK (7th in the Guardian University Guide 2024) with state‑of‑the‑art laboratories housed in a completely refurbished building.
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