PhD in Organic Chemistry and Radiochemistry – Design and evaluation of Radiotracers to Image Alzheimer’s Disease

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PhD in Organic Chemistry and Radiochemistry – Design and evaluation of Radiotracers to Image Alzheimer’s Disease

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Offer DescriptionThe is looking for a chemist postgraduate to take part in a PhD project in organic chemistry and radiochemistry.If you have a keen interest for organic chemistry and synthetic methods development, if you think your chemistry skills are best used for practical applications in Life Sciences, if you are willing to contribute to the fight against Alzheimer’s disease, then this PhD project is for you!Phd Project DescriptionFluorine-18 radiolabelled bioactive molecules are the cornerstone of Nuclear Medicine, being used in Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to image various diseases such as cancers, dementia, or epilepsy. In particular, PET imaging of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is of critical importance as it promises to allow early diagnostic of AD and to facilitate the development of novel therapies. However, most PET tracers proposed for AD imaging target biomarkers appearing only in the late stages of the disease and many suffer from problematic radiosynthesis. The overall goal of this project is therefore to establish high yielding routes for the radiosynthesis of novel radiotracers to image early stages of AD and to translate these into routine automated productions for clinical use.In this project, your will investigate novel radiochemical methodologies to produce two highly sought after radiotracers. You will synthesize precursors and analytical references, confirm the structure of the products, carry-out radiolabelling experiments, program and optimize the automated production process on the synthesizer and design reagent kits and consumables.Specific Duties and Activities

• Carry-out multi steps organic synthesis and subsequent product purification/analysis
• Optimize (radio)chemical processes
• Automatize radiolabelling processes
• Present results at international conferences
• Ensure the highest standard of record keeping (lab notebook, analysis etc.)
• Attend mandatory trainings
• Adhere to procedures and local rules
• Attend and present at group meetings

Work environmentThe Cyclotron Research Centre (CRC) of the University of Liège has more than 30 years of experience in organic chemistry, radiochemistry, and medical imaging. The radiochemistry group is involved throughout the entire radiotracer development pipeline, from the target selection and the organic synthesis of precursors to the development of highly innovative radiochemical strategies. The group has a dedicated fully equipped organic chemistry lab, analytical platform (NMR, UPLC-MS…), radiochemistry lab equipped with a dedicated cyclotron, several hot-cells and automated radiosynthesizers. Located in a wooded area uphill Liège, the campus benefits from an excellent working environment with a thriving student life, and excellent public transportation to the city centre which all contributes to maintaining a healthy work/life balance.RequirementsResearch Field Chemistry » Organic chemistry Education Level Master Degree or equivalentSkills/Qualifications

• University diploma in organic chemistry (e.g. M2, MChem, M. Sc., Dipl. Ing.)
• Excellent knowledge and practical skills in organic chemistry
• Working knowledge of analytical methods, including NMR, HPLC, and MS
• Experience in literature search engines and chemical databases (e.g. SciFinder, Reaxys)
• Resourceful, creative, highly motivated by R&D, and able to act on own initiative
• Good inter-personal skills with an appetite to work in a multidisciplinary setting
• Good written and verbal communication skills in English (B2 level or above)
• Knowledge of French would be a plus

Languages ENGLISH Level GoodLanguages FRENCH Level BasicResearch Field Chemistry » Organic chemistryAdditional InformationSelection processApplicants are invited to apply as soon as possible and no later than June 11st, 2024. Please include a comprehensive CV, a copy of Master Grades (M1 and M2, if available), and a brief cover letter (maximum 1 page) describing your personal qualifications and motivation for applying. Applications should be sent via email to Dr. Thibault Gendron at .Work Location(s)Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute University of Liège Country Belgium City LIEGE Postal Code 4000 Street Allée du 6 Août, 8 GeofieldWhere to apply E-mailcyclotron@uliege.beContact CityLIEGE WebsiteStreetAllée du 6 Août, 8 Postal Code4000 E-Mailcyclotron@uliege.beSTATUS: EXPIRED

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Job date

Sat, 01 Jun 2024 22:07:25 GMT

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