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🧬 PhD Researcher Position – Structural Biology & Small Molecule Drug Discovery | University of Mainz
Institution: University of Mainz
Laboratory: Czodrowski Lab
📍 Location: Mainz, Germany
💼 Position Available: PhD Researcher
🔬 Research Areas: Structural Biology | Drug Discovery | Chemical Biology | Biophysical Methods | Machine Learning | Small Molecule Inhibitors | Protein-Ligand Interactions
The Czodrowski Lab at the University of Mainz is inviting applications from highly motivated researchers for a PhD Researcher Position focused on the identification of new small molecule inhibitors for the aspartic protease endothiapepsin.
The project combines structural biology, computational approaches, machine learning, biophysical methods, and experimental drug discovery to investigate novel approaches for addressing important challenges in chemical biology and unmet medical needs.
Preferred Start Date: January 2027
🔬 Research Background
The Czodrowski Lab combines interdisciplinary approaches in:
- Structural biology
- Machine learning
- Biophysical methods
- Chemical biology
- Drug discovery
The laboratory investigates fundamental principles underlying protein-ligand interactions while applying these insights to the discovery and development of molecules for areas of unmet medical need.
The aspartic protease endothiapepsin serves as an important model system for integrating structural and biophysical approaches with modern AI-driven methods.
🧪 PhD Research Project
Identification of Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors
The PhD project focuses on the identification and experimental verification of novel small molecule inhibitors of endothiapepsin.
Endothiapepsin exhibits significant structural similarities to pharmaceutically important aspartic proteases, including:
- HIV protease
- Beta-secretase
Previous research has successfully investigated and deciphered proton transfer mechanisms during peptide complex formation with endothiapepsin.
In this PhD project, the successful candidate will:
- Identify novel structurally related inhibitors using virtual approaches.
- Investigate potential small molecule candidates computationally.
- Verify promising candidates experimentally.
- Study protein-ligand interactions.
- Investigate proton transfer processes during protein-ligand complex formation.
The project offers an opportunity to combine computational drug discovery with advanced experimental structural and biophysical research.
🔬 Research Methods & Approaches
The research program integrates a range of advanced methodologies, including:
Structural Biology
Apply structural biology approaches to investigate protein structures and understand the molecular basis of protein-ligand interactions.
Biophysical Methods
The laboratory utilizes techniques such as:
- Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC)
- Saturation transfer difference nuclear magnetic resonance (STD NMR)
- X-ray diffraction
- switchSENSE
- Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)
Computational & AI-Driven Approaches
The project integrates computational methods and AI-driven approaches to support the identification and analysis of promising small molecule inhibitors.
Protein-Ligand Interaction Analysis
Investigate the fundamental principles governing:
- Protein-ligand binding
- Molecular recognition
- Ligand binding mechanisms
- Proton transfer
- Protein-ligand complex formation
🎯 Ideal Candidates
The ideal candidate should be a highly motivated individual with a strong academic and research background in:
- Structural biology
- Biophysical methods
- Chemical biology
- Molecular sciences
- Drug discovery
- Related scientific disciplines
Candidates should demonstrate:
- A solid background in structural biology and biophysical methods.
- The ability to work independently.
- A strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Initiative and an independent work ethic.
- Excellent motivation and enthusiasm for scientific research.
- Fluency in English.
- A willingness to contribute to teaching and mentoring undergraduate students.
Knowledge of German is considered a strong advantage.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
Successful PhD researchers will receive:
- A 3-year funded research position.
- Salary according to the German TV-L E13 pay scale (65%).
- Full social benefits.
- Access to state-of-the-art research facilities.
- Opportunities to work in well-equipped laboratories.
- Training in advanced structural biology and biophysical techniques.
- Experience in computational and AI-driven drug discovery.
- Exposure to interdisciplinary chemical biology research.
- Opportunities for local, national, and international collaborations.
- Comprehensive professional development beyond the core PhD research project.
- Experience in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students.
💰 Funding & Position Details
Position Type: Funded PhD Research Position
Duration: 3 Years
Salary Scale: TV-L E13 (65%)
Benefits: Full Social Benefits
Preferred Start Date: January 2027
Location: Mainz, Germany
🧪 Research Focus
The research project focuses on understanding protein-ligand interactions and identifying novel inhibitors of the aspartic protease endothiapepsin.
The project integrates:
- Structural biology
- Biophysical chemistry
- Drug discovery
- Chemical biology
- Small molecule inhibitor discovery
- Virtual screening
- Experimental validation
- Machine learning
- AI-driven approaches
- X-ray crystallography
- NMR spectroscopy
- Protein-ligand interactions
- Proton transfer mechanisms
The selected PhD researcher will contribute to the discovery and characterization of novel inhibitors while investigating fundamental molecular mechanisms relevant to drug discovery.
💼 Anticipated Responsibilities
The selected PhD researcher will be expected to:
- Conduct independent research on small molecule inhibitor discovery.
- Identify novel endothiapepsin inhibitors using computational and virtual approaches.
- Perform experimental validation of promising compounds.
- Apply structural biology and biophysical methods.
- Investigate protein-ligand interactions.
- Study proton transfer mechanisms during complex formation.
- Analyze and interpret experimental and computational data.
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary researchers.
- Contribute to scientific publications and research outputs.
- Participate in teaching and mentoring undergraduate students.
📄 How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their complete application as a single PDF document via email.
📧 Email Applications To
Email: czodpaul@uni-mainz.de
Email Subject: “PhD ET”
Applicants should include the following documents:
- Letter of Motivation – Focusing on the proposed PhD project.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- Two-Page Summary of the Master’s Thesis – Including a graphical table of contents (TOC).
- Academic Transcripts – From both BSc and MSc programmes.
- Contact Details of Two References – Including names and contact information; reference letters are preferred where available.
🌐 Laboratory Website: Czodrowski Lab
📚 Further Reading
Relevant research publications include:
- Vatheur et al., ChemMedChem (2025), e202400953.
DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400953 - Vatheur et al., ChemMedChem (2025), e202500244.
DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202500244
📌 Job Details
Institution: University of Mainz
Laboratory: Czodrowski Lab
Position: PhD Researcher
Location: Mainz, Germany
Research Areas: Structural Biology | Drug Discovery | Chemical Biology | Biophysical Methods | Machine Learning
Project: Identification of New Small Molecule Inhibitors for the Aspartic Protease Endothiapepsin
Research Methods: ITC | STD NMR | X-Ray Diffraction | switchSENSE | FRET | Computational Approaches
Qualification: Strong Background in Structural Biology and Biophysical Methods
Funding: Funded Position
Salary: TV-L E13 (65%)
Benefits: Full Social Benefits
Duration: 3 Years
Preferred Start Date: January 2027
Application Mode: Email
Application Email: czodpaul@uni-mainz.de
Category
PhD Position | Structural Biology | Drug Discovery | Chemical Biology | Biophysical Methods | Computational Drug Discovery | Machine Learning | Small Molecule Discovery | Protein-Ligand Interactions | Research Jobs | PhD Jobs | Germany Jobs | University Jobs
🏷️ Tags
#PhDPosition #PhDJobs #UniversityOfMainz #StructuralBiology #DrugDiscovery #ChemicalBiology #BiophysicalMethods #MachineLearning #SmallMoleculeInhibitors #ProteinLigandInteractions
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