Ref Number
B04-07419
Professional Expertise
Research and Research Support
Department
UCL BEAMS (B04)
Location
London
Working Pattern
Full time
Salary
£43,981-£52,586
Contract Type
Fixed-term
Working Type
On site
Available for Secondment
No
Closing Date
12-Jun-2026
The Chemistry Department at University College London is the oldest in England, ranked 3rd in the UK for research excellence in REF(2021) and with over 50 members of academic staff carrying out world-leading research.
Our department is situated in Bloomsbury, at the heart of London, and we offer an exciting and vibrant environment in which to study at one of the UK's top universities. The department has an annual research income of around £15 million, derived from many sources including the Research Councils (EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, and NERC), European Commission and a wide range of charities and industrial partners in the UK, Europe and the USA. It is It is excellently equipped for chemical biology, nanomaterials and biophysical research and characterisation as a result of >£4M of investments in laboratories for synthetic and biological chemistry. This includes peptide synthesisers, extensive HPLC equipment, a suite of 5 high field NMRs (including 700 MHz) and a mass spectrometry suite including Thermo Orbitrap LC-MS and Micromass MALDI-TOF instruments.
For more details visit http://www.ucl.ac.uk/chemistry
We are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Researcher to contribute to a multidisciplinary project investigating the molecular basis of cyclic antimicrobial peptide–lipid interactions as part of an EPSRC Open Plus Fellowship awarded to Professor Alethea Tabor.
The overall goal of the project is to develop new chemical biology approaches to understand how complex cyclic and polycyclic antimicrobial peptides selectively recognise and interact with target lipids, enabling the rational development of new antimicrobial agents active against multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this project, you will design, synthesise and test novel chemical biology probes based on cyclic antimicrobial peptides to investigate peptide–lipid interactions at the molecular level and contribute to building predictive models of their behaviour.
You will work in a multidisciplinary research environment, collaborating closely with a PhD student on a parallel project and a Research Fellow in Structural and Molecular Biology developing cross-linking mass spectrometry techniques using the cyclic peptide analogues synthesised. You will also engage with collaborators across UCL and partner institutions including Queen’s University Belfast, University of Nottingham, Utrecht University, and Uppsala University, spanning expertise in biophysics, microbiology, NMR, and lipid synthesis. Strong teamwork, communication skills, and the ability to deliver research outputs in a timely manner will be essential.
The appointment will be for a fixed term of 2 years initially, with potential for extension subject to funding and/or project requirements, with a start date of September 2026 or shortly thereafter.
You will have a PhD (or be close to completion) in Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a related discipline, with a strong background in synthetic chemistry and experience in the design and preparation of complex molecules such as peptides or peptide analogues. Experience in chemical biology approaches and an interest in antimicrobial research would be advantageous. You will be able to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team, collaborating with researchers across a range of fields including biophysics, microbiology, and structural biology.
Strong organisational, communication, and problem-solving skills are essential, along with the ability to manage your time effectively and deliver high-quality research outputs to agreed deadlines. You will also demonstrate a willingness to contribute to the wider research environment, including supporting student supervision, participating in teaching activities, engaging in public outreach, and contributing to funding applications and collaborative research initiatives. A track record of contributing to publications in peer-reviewed journals, or clear potential to do so, is expected.
A full job description and person specification can be accessed by the link at the bottom of this page.
To apply for the vacancy please click on the ‘Apply Now’ button below. Please upload a CV, list of publications and covering letter stating why you are interested in the role and how you meet the criteria.
Closing date: 12/6/2026
Applications must be submitted by 23:59 (GMT/BST, London time) on 12 June 2026.
As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents, we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days’ annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
• Immigration loan • Relocation scheme for certain posts
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Visit https://www.ucl.ac.uk/work-at-ucl/rewards-and-benefits to find out more.
As London’s Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world’s talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong.
We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL’s workforce. These include people from Black, Asian and ethnic minority backgrounds; disabled people; LGBTQI+ people; and for our Grade 9 and 10 roles, women.
At UCL Chemistry we are dedicated to the Athena SWAN Charter for women in science, recognising the commitment to advancing women’s careers in science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education and research.
The department was successfully awarded a Bronze Award in 2016 and Silver Award in 2020, in recognition of our commitment to advancing gender equality.
