Vac 61 2025 - Chemistry Research Assistant in Training

The Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC) is a comprehensive **cancer research center** dedicated to conduct research and drive innovation in the epidemiological, preventive, clinical, translational, and basic aspects of leukaemia and other hematologic malignancies, with the final aim of finding a cure for these diseases. It was created in 2010, and since then has experienced an exponential growth.

The IJC is also part of the network of Excellence Research Centers of Catalonia **(CERCA)** and was accredited as a **Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence** by the Ministry of Science, Innovation, and Universities in 2024. Since 2018, the Institute has also been accredited by the Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer **(FCAECC)** Additionally, IJC is one of the centers integrated into the Institut de Recerca Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP) accreditation as Accredited Health Research Institute (IIS) by the Carlos III Health Institute **(ISCIII)**.

The IJC's main headquarters is located within the Can Ruti Biomedical Campus, alongside other leading biomedical institutions, providing direct access to cutting-edge scientific and technological facilities, as well as complementary community services. The IJC has **six locations integrated into reference hospitals**: Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Hospital Clínic, Hospital Sant Pau, Hospital Josep Trueta, Hospital del Mar and Hospital San Joan de Déu. This facilitates close collaboration between basic and clinical researchers, fostering translational research that integrates basic science with clinical practice in clinical settings.

We are looking for a **Chemistry Research Assistant in Training**to join a multidiscipliplinary team led by Dr. Marcus Buschbeck at IJC’s headquarters and operating in tight collaborations with the Chemical Institut Sarria (IQS) of the Ramón Llull University.

**RESEARCH DESCRIPTION**

You will develop a research line that is embedded in a larger multidisciplinary drg development effort. Your main objective will be to develop inhibitory small compounds for a novel drug target in acute myeloid leukemia that we have identified and validated in collaboration with the team of the experimental clinician Florian Heidel (Medical University Hannover, Germany).

First, you will develop novel ligands for a validated drug target in acute myeloid leukemia. Building on our promising preliminary results, you will optimize and expand the hit discovery using computer-aided tools. We will prioritize hits with suitable predicted drug metabolism and pharmacokinetic properties for optimization using organic synthesis. Finally, you will validate specificity using biophysical methods. Second, using rationale and computation-supported design methods, we will convert ligands into chimeras linking the target to the proteolytic machinery. We will assess the functionality of these so-called proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs). We will benchmark their performance and determine specificity using established reporter cells, engineered primary murine AML cells and a panel of human AML cell lines. Third, you will make an effort to identify ligands for proteins that are related to the validated drug target that are currently orphan.

This project will be executed in a tight collaboration between the computational chemist Roger Estrada-Tejedor, the organic medicinal chemist Ricardo Serafim and the team of Marcus Buschbeck. The chemistry-related tasks will be performed at IQS and all biophysical, biochemical and biology-related tasks will be performed at IJC.

**MAIN RESPONSABILITIES**
- Synthesize and characterize small molecules with potential therapeutic effect.
- Work in collaboration with other scientists within a multidisciplinary research team focused on medicinal chemistry.
- Maintain accurate and well-organized experimental records.

**WHAT WE NEED**
- Fundamental theoretical and practical knowledge in synthetic organic chemistry, purification techniques, and structural characterization of small-molecules (NMR, MS, HPLC, TLC ).
- Hands-on experience in synthetic organic chemistry and compound purification.
- Familiarity with chemistry drawing packages (ChemDraw, MestReNova, etc), MS Office products and the ability to learn other software packages.
- Knowledge of molecular design and molecular modeling tools (e.g. QSAR models, pharmacophores, docking, molecular dynamics). A high level of motivation and interest in translational research.
- High level of motivation and good communicative skills.
- Good level of English speaking and writing skills (required). Spanish and Catalan (helpful).
- Previous experience with PROTACS/molecular degraders is a plus.
- Experience with computer-aided drug design software is recommended (e.g. MOE o Schrödinger).
- Master level degree and interest to pursue a PhD.

**WHAT WE OFFER**
- Temporary position: 1 year (Training contract). Possibility to continue as a PhD student.
- Full-time contract.