Job Opportunity: Postdoctoral Researcher in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Organisation/Company: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
Research Field: Chemistry » Organic Chemistry
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
Country: Latvia
Application Deadline: 13 February 2025 – 22:00 (UTC)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Offer Description
The Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in medicinal chemistry. This exciting opportunity focuses on developing innovative antibiotics in collaboration with the University of Bergen, Norway. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with a strong background in small molecule synthetic organic chemistry. The successful candidate will contribute to ground breaking research in antibiotic drug discovery, working within a world-class, state-of-the-art laboratory.
About the Research Group
The Šmits Research Group specializes in:
• Total synthesis
• Main group catalysis
• Medicinal chemistry
• Process development
Our team is committed to advancing the field of organic synthesis, with a focus on novel antibiotic development, and fostering a collaborative and innovative research environment.
Key Responsibilities
As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will:
• Lead a sub-group and conduct independent research aligned with the project’s goals. You will have opportunities to both work independently and collaborate closely with the team to meet objectives.
• Train and supervise students while fostering a collaborative and supportive research environment.
• Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to identify cutting-edge techniques and methodologies for the development of antibiotics.
• Design, execute, and optimize synthetic experiments in the laboratory, ensuring high standards of scientific rigor.
• Format and report results suitable for internationally peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Adhere to all safety regulations and ensure laboratory compliance and order at all times.
Qualifications
To qualify for this role, you should possess:
• A PhD in Organic Chemistry or a related field (e.g., medicinal chemistry, methodology development).
• Proven early career achievements, such as scientific publications.
• Extensive experience in synthetic organic chemistry, including:
- Reactions under standard and dry conditions
- Reaction optimization
- Purification and characterization of organic compounds using techniques like NMR, LC/MS, GC/MS, HPLC, IR, and UV-vis
Contract Terms
- Duration: Full-time, temporary position for up to 36 months, with potential for extension based on performance and project funding.
• Salary: Approx. €3,200/month (gross), equivalent to a net salary of €2,100/month after taxes. This is competitive for the region and comes with additional benefits like health insurance.
Rights and Benefits
At LIOS, we are committed to providing a supportive, inclusive, and equitable workplace. Benefits include:
• Flexibility and Stability: Enjoy flexible working arrangements, including the possibility of partial remote work after an initial settling-in period.
• Work Environment: Access to modern infrastructure, well-equipped laboratories, and a non-discriminatory, safe workplace.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for training and short-term mobility (e.g., conferences, research visits).
• Health Insurance: Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
Location Information
The position is based in Riga, Latvia, a vibrant city known for its rich history, culture, and growing scientific community. The city offers an excellent quality of life with a low cost of living compared to many Western European capitals.
Application Procedure
To apply, please prepare the following documents in English and submit them as PDF files via email to: gintssmits@osi.lv.
Required Documents:
- CV – Include a full list of publications and two references.
- Personal Letter (named: PersonalLetter_Surname_Ref.Number) – A 1-3 page document introducing yourself, detailing your prior research experience and key findings, and outlining your future research goals.
- EU working permit (if relevant).
- Other Documents – Certified copies of degrees, grades, and other relevant certificates.
Important: Applications must be complete to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Deadline and Contact Information
Application Deadline: 13 February 2025 (22:00 UTC)
Review Process: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Shortlisted candidates will be invited for an interview following initial review. We aim to notify candidates of the final decision by the end of February 2025.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Assoc. Prof. Gints Šmits
Head of Laboratory, Principal Researcher
Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
Email: gintssmits@osi.lv
Job Opportunity: Postdoctoral Researcher in Synthetic Organic Chemistry
Organisation/Company: Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
Research Field: Chemistry » Organic Chemistry
Researcher Profile: Recognised Researcher (R2)
Country: Latvia
Application Deadline: 13 February 2025 – 22:00 (UTC)
Type of Contract: Temporary
Job Status: Full-time
Offer Description
The Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position in synthetic organic chemistry as part of the ERDF refinanced ERC Starting Grant project “F-Node”. This exciting opportunity focuses on developing innovative reagents and methodologies in organofluorine chemistry. The successful candidate will contribute to groundbreaking research in fluorine chemistry, working within a world-class, state-of-the-art laboratory.
About the Research Group
The Veliks Research Group specializes in:
- Synthetic organic chemistry
- Fluorine chemistry
- Medicinal chemistry
- Process development
The group’s core focus lies in developing novel reagents and synthetic methodologies for introducing monofluorinated synthons into target molecules. This work enables access to otherwise challenging monofluorinated compounds with promising applications in medicinal chemistry.
Key Responsibilities
As a Postdoctoral Researcher, you will:
- Lead a sub-group and conduct independent research aligned with the project’s goals.
- Train and supervise students while fostering a collaborative environment.
- Conduct comprehensive literature reviews to identify cutting-edge techniques and methodologies.
- Design, execute, and optimize experiments in the laboratory.
- Format and report results suitable for internationally peer-reviewed scientific publications.
- Adhere to safety regulations and ensure laboratory compliance and order.
Qualifications
To qualify for this role, you should possess:
- A PhD in Organic Chemistry or a related field (e.g., methodology development, photochemistry). Candidates nearing completion of their PhD are also encouraged to apply.
- Proven early career achievements, such as scientific publications.
- Extensive experience in synthetic organic chemistry, including:
- Reactions under standard and dry conditions
- Reaction optimization
- Purification and characterization of organic compounds via NMR, LC/MS, CG/MS, HPLC, IR, and UV-vis
Contract Terms
- Duration: Full-time, temporary position for up to 18 months, with potential for extension based on performance and project funding.
- Salary: €3,200/month (gross) or €2,100/month (net, after taxes).
Rights and Benefits
At LIOS, we are committed to providing a supportive, inclusive, and equitable workplace. Benefits include:
- Flexibility and Stability: Enjoy flexible working arrangements.
- Work Environment: Access to modern infrastructure, well-equipped laboratories, and a non-discriminatory, safe workplace.
- Professional Development: Opportunities for training and short-term mobility (e.g., conferences).
Application Procedure
To apply, please prepare the following documents in English and submit them as PDF files via email to: janis.veliks@osi.lv.
Mark your application with reference number: FN-13012025.
Required Documents:
- CV (named: CV_Surname_Ref.Number) – Include a full list of publications and two references.
- Personal Letter (named: PersonalLetter_Surname_Ref.Number) – A 1-3 page document introducing yourself, detailing your prior research experience and key findings, and outlining your future research goals.
- Other Documents – Certified copies of degrees, grades, and other relevant certificates.
Important: Applications must be complete to be considered. Incomplete applications will not be processed.
Deadline and Contact Information
- Application Deadline: 13 February 2025 (22:00 UTC)
- Review Process: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Dr. Janis Veliks
Head of Laboratory, Principal Researcher
Organic Synthesis Laboratory, Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis
Email: janis.veliks@osi.lv
Project: Functional Omics Analysis of Metabolic Diseases to Advance Drug Discovery Research Excellence in LIOS
Acronym: TARGETWISE
Career Profile: R3/R4
Are you a driven, innovative, and accomplished researcher passionate about metabolic research and advancing drug discovery? The Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis (LIOS), one of Europe’s leading research institutions, is seeking a Group Leader for the Metabolic Research Group. This permanent position is offered within the framework of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project TARGETWISE.
About the Opportunity
The Metabolic Research Group will focus on functional omics analyses of metabolic diseases, aiming to identify new drug targets and propel drug discovery efforts to the forefront of excellence. With dedicated funding, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a collaborative research environment, this is your chance to lead impactful work that addresses some of today’s most pressing health challenges.
LIOS offers the opportunity to work in a modern, supportive, and inclusive scientific community. This position provides not only stability and flexibility but also the freedom to conduct groundbreaking research, collaborate with other leading groups at LIOS, and shape the future of metabolic research.
Responsibilities and Obligations
As the Group Leader, your key responsibilities will include:
- Establishing and leading the Metabolic Research Group: This includes recruiting and managing a team of ~5 Full-Time Equivalents (FTEs).
- Fundraising and project management: Attract funding for public and private competitive research projects.
- Collaborative research: Coordinate with other LIOS groups to integrate multidisciplinary expertise.
- Supervision and mentoring: Guide PhD and MSc students in their academic and research pursuits.
- Knowledge dissemination: Publish findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and engage in knowledge transfer activities.
- Innovation management: Promote valorization of research results through innovation management.
- Ethics and professionalism: Adhere to ethical standards, contractual obligations, and professional conduct throughout your tenure.
Rights and Benefits
LIOS is committed to fostering a supportive and equitable workplace. As Group Leader, you will enjoy:
- Flexibility and stability: Permanent employment and flexible working arrangements.
- Scientific freedom: Autonomy in research within the TARGETWISE project’s domain.
- Work environment: Access to modern infrastructure, the ability to define necessary resources, and a safe, non-discriminatory environment.
- Professional development: Opportunities for training, short-term mobility (e.g., conferences), and strategic decision-making roles (e.g., LIOS Scientific Council).
- Compensation:
- Base salary of EUR 72,360/year (pre-tax).
- Bonuses for publications, supervised theses, and successfully awarded projects.
- Comprehensive health insurance.
- Dedicated funding:
- Budget for infrastructure upgrades and group development.
- Support for training and mobility.
Application Requirements
Applications must be in English and include the following:
- Motivation Letter (up to 1 A4 page): Outline your experience, particularly in bioinformatics, data science, and omics.
- CV in Europass format: Include detailed information on work experience, education, training, publications (highlight your contribution, journal impact factor, and number of citations), H-index, awards, and other relevant achievements. Emphasize your three most significant publications and their impact.
- Letters of Recommendation: At least two, with one from your most recent employer.
- Strategic Development Plan (up to 3 pages, including references): This is required during the second round of selection.
Deadline: 18 February 2025 – 17:00 (Europe/Riga)
Recruitment Process
The selection process will involve evaluation by a Recruitment Committee:
- Prof. Helgi B. Schiöth, ERA-Chair holder, LIOS
- Prof. Maija Dambrova, Project Manager, LIOS
- Assoc. Prof. Reinis Vilskersts, Task Leader, LIOS
- Ieva Uskure, Head of LIOS Human Resources department
- Prof. Raivis Žalubovskis, Chair of Gender Equality Committee, LIOS
Apply Today!
Send your application to recruit_tgws@farm.osi.lv to join LIOS and lead the way in advancing metabolic research.