Postdoctoral Researcher in Bioconjugation and Oligonucleotide Chemistry

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Chémo-Biologie Synthétique & Thérapeutique Research Field Chemistry Biological sciences Pharmacological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 21 Sep 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 4 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

As part of an ERC Consolidator grant (the 'MuSyC' project funded by the European Commission – Grant Agreement No. 101229996) aimed at developing new bioconjugation strategies, we are seeking a talented and motivated postdoctoral researcher (M/F) to join our team. The successful candidate will play a central role in project management, as well as in the establishment of a protein bioconjugation screening platform based on DNA-encoded libraries. The successful candidate will be involved at every key stage of the development process, from setting up the technology in the laboratory to its practical application.
This role requires solid expertise in project management within the field of biomolecular chemistry, and more specifically in protein and oligonucleotide chemistry. The ability to thrive in a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment will be essential, as will knowledge of chemical bioconjugation and synthetic chemistry.
This role offers the opportunity to design and actively contribute to the development of research projects with high commercialisation potential within a dynamic team, with the ultimate aim of developing new approaches to site-selective conjugation.

• Development of a DNA-encoded library (DEL): select the DNA sequences best suited to the proposed projects; develop the coupling reactions with the different warheads; manage stocks; develop the methodology.
• Implementation of the DEL: prepare all the reagents and consumables required to apply the DEL for bioconjugation; optimise the various critical steps (selection, amplification, decoding); validate the reproducibility of the strategy.
• Documentation and reporting: draft experimental protocols and detailed reports, contribute to the traceability of experimental data, present results at team or project meetings, contribute to the dissemination of results in the form of publications.
• Planning: work in collaboration with potential academic and industrial partners, including both synthetic and analytical chemists; participate in strategic discussions on the design of chemical libraries and the resolution of methodological issues; anticipate technical risks and propose innovative solutions.
• Related activities: apply health and safety principles and regulations; manage stocks of reagents and consumables; train and mentor new team members or interns; technology transfer and strategic direction (applications, entrepreneurial focus, etc.).

The Laboratory of Synthetic & Therapeutic Chemo-Biology (CBST, UMR7199) is located at the Faculty of Pharmacy in Strasbourg, on the Illkirch campus. The campus is easily accessible by public transport from Strasbourg or Illkirch city centre and has a university canteen, as well as several shops nearby. Our team currently comprises eight PhD and postdoctoral students and two engineers. The research areas developed within the team include bioconjugation, antibody-drug and antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates, targeted RNA delivery and single-cell analysis. The team has all the technical resources and collaborations necessary for the successful delivery of projects. We foster a collaborative culture, focused on innovation and the translation of innovations into concrete therapeutic solutions.

The successful candidate will report to the team leaders and will interact regularly with other team members.

Working conditions:

Occasional remote working is possible.

Qualifications / Skills:

• PhD in organic chemistry (synthetic chemistry, chemobiology)
• Synthetic chemistry and biomolecular chemistry: oligonucleotides, proteins, small molecules
• In-depth knowledge and/or previous experience of DNA-encoded libraries
• Proficiency in English (minimum B2 level)

Operational skills / expertise:

• Rigorous conduct of laboratory experiments and chemical reactions (optimisation, reproducibility, scale-up)
• Use of laboratory tools (chromatography, data analysis software, etc.)
• Critical analysis of experimental d