Postgraduate research opportunities Electrify-It: A Photo(electro)chemical N-insertion Skeletal Mutation Strategy for Accessing Heterocyclic Drug Scaffolds
ApplyKey facts
- Opens: Wednesday 10 December 2025
- Deadline: Sunday 15 February 2026
- Number of places: 1
- Duration: 36 months
- Funding: International fee, Stipend, Travel costs
Overview
The Doctoral Candidate will develop a skeletal mutation methodology for N-atom Insertion into commercial, cheap scaffolds to rapidly access pharmaceutically relevant drug cores. Platforms for electron transfer (photoredox catalysis, anodic oxidation) will be leveraged. A comprehensive programme of training in both technical and soft skills, involving other international partners within the MSCA-DN, will be provided. 2x 3-month stints with partner institutions within the MSCA-DN.Eligibility
A Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a Masters in Organic Chemistry. Less than 4 years of full-time research experience and no prior doctoral degree.
Compliance with MSCA mobility rule – applicants must not have resided or worked in the host country (U.K.) for more than 12 months in the 3 years before recruitment.
If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of at least 6.0 with no component below 5.5.
Project Details
The Doctoral Candidate (DC) will develop a skeletal mutation methodology for N-atom Insertion into commercial, cheap scaffolds to rapidly access pharmaceutically-relevant drug cores. Platforms for electron transfer (photoredox catalysis, anodic oxidation) will be leveraged. A comprehensive programme of training in both technical and soft skills, involving other international partners within the MSCA-DN, will be provided. The DC will spend 2x 3-month stints are partner institutions within the MSCA-DN (currently planned: KTH Sweden & Max Planck Institute, Germany).
Further information
Funding details
Each fellowship offers a competitive MSCA package, including:
- Monthly living allowance (adjusted by country):
- United Kingdom: €5,682.17
- Mobility allowance: €710/month
- Family allowance (if applicable): €495/month
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
Primary supervisor
- Dr Joshua Philip Barham
Additional supervisors
- Prof. Craig Jamieson
Two additional supervisors as part of the MSCA-Doctoral Network will be assigned for the two 3-month funded exchanges between the international partners.
Apply
Applications must include:
- a CV (with Bachelor's and Masters marks record)
- a motivation letter
- at least one recommendation letter
Applications must be sent to: electrify.it.eu@gmail.com, with the subject line: “EI Application to DC4 position”
Number of places: 1
Another 7 positions are advertised as part of the MSCA-DN at the respective partner institutions.
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