The Department of Chemistry is offering a postdoctoral scholarship within Organic Chemistry Focused on γPNA Monomer Synthesis The scholarship is full-time for two years with access by agreement. The last day for applying is the 18th of January 2026.
Project description
DNA is a dynamic molecule, transiently exposing regions that can be selectively targeted by tailored synthetic analogues. This project explores such opportunities using peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), with a major focus on designing and synthesizing γ-modified PNA monomers. These backbone-engineered building blocks exhibit exceptional recognition properties and open entirely new avenues for targeting specific DNA structures.
You will join the project at a crucial stage and participate in building a dedicated synthetic platform for these monomers. The chemistry involves multi-step synthesis, protecting-group strategies, stereochemical control, and structural optimization, thereby offering both challenge and creative freedom. Downstream, the monomers will be incorporated into PNA/γPNA oligomers for structure–function studies in collaboration with chemical biology partners.
The work will be conducted at the Department of Chemistry, with access to state-of-the-art organic synthesis laboratories, microwave-assisted synthesis, advanced purification and analytical facilities (HPLC, NMR, MS), and strong collaborations for structural, biophysical, and biological studies. The environment is highly collaborative, friendly, and international—featuring joint journal clubs, seminars, and interactions with partners in academia and industry.
We welcome you to join our team and help shape this emerging field.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to:
Design and synthesize novel γPNA and PNA monomers, including backbone-modified building blocks with tailored functional groups.
Develop and optimize multi-step organic syntheses, protecting-group strategies, and scalable workflows.
Contribute to solid-phase synthesis of PNA/γPNA oligomers; experience in peptide synthesis is highly meriting but not required.
Characterize compounds using modern analytical techniques (HPLC, NMR, HRMS).
Collaborate closely with team members performing structural, biophysical, and cellular studies.
Contribute to writing scientific manuscripts and present results at national and international meetings.
This position provides an excellent opportunity to expand your expertise in synthetic organic chemistry, nucleic acid analogue design, and chemical biology tools, skills highly relevant for future academic or industrial careers.
Qualifications
To qualify as a postdoctoral scholarship holder, the postdoctoral fellow is required to have completed a doctoral degree or a foreign degree deemed equivalent to a doctoral degree. This qualification requirement must be fulfilled no later than at the time of the decision about scholarship recipient.
Priority should be given to candidates who completed their doctoral degree, according to what is stipulated in the paragraph above, no later than three years prior. If there are special reasons, candidates who completed their doctoral degree before that may also be eligible. Special reasons include absence due to illness, parental leave, appointments of trust in trade union organizations, military service or similar circumstances, as well as clinical practice or other forms of appointment/assignment relevant to the subject area.
Doctoral degree should be within organic chemistry or another closely related field
Additional requirements are:
Strong track record in synthetic organic chemistry, including multi-step synthesis.
Experience with purification and analytical characterization (HPLC, NMR, MS).
Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a team.
Excellent written and spoken English.
Meriting criteria are:
Experience with nucleic acid chemistry, monomer synthesis, or backbone-modified scaffolds.
Experience with solid-phase synthesis (peptide, PNA, or related).
Background in bioconjugation or chemical biology.
Demonstrated creativity in solving synthetic problems.
We are looking for candidates who are driven, responsible, and highly lab-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple tasks in parallel.
What We Offer
This position provides a rare opportunity to build a new synthetic platform from the ground up, with substantial freedom to design and explore novel PNA/DNA-monomer structures. You will have direct access to state-of-the-art instrumentation and well-equipped laboratories with minimal bottlenecks, enabling rapid progression from concept to experiment.
You will join a supportive, international, and highly collaborative environment with strong mentorship and excellent opportunities for scientific development. A central part of the project involves close interaction with partnering research groups, where the compounds and hypotheses you develop will be evaluated through complementary structural, biophysical, and functional studies. This provides a unique setting to see your chemistry directly translated into new biological insights. The fellowship also offers an excellent foundation for a future career in academia, biotechnology, or the rapidly expanding field of nucleic acid therapeutics.
The 2-year scholarship is funded by Kempe foundation (JCSMK25-0125) with the amount of 360 000 SEK/year, tax-free. Starting date is as soon as possible or by agreement.
Application
The application should be written in English or Swedish, and attached documents should be in Word or PDF format. The application should be registered via Umeå University’s e-recruitment system Varbi and submitted no later than January 18th, 2026.
A full application should include:
Cover letter including research interests and qualifications (maximum 1 page),
Curriculum vitae (CV) including list of technical expertise and list of publications,
Verified copy of doctoral degree certificate or documentation that clarifies when the degree of doctor is expected to be obtained.
Certified copies of diplomas, list of completed academic courses and grades
Copy of or link to PhD thesis and max five relevant publications,
Names and contact details of two reference persons,
Other documents you wish to claim.
Additional information:
For further information, please contact associate professor Erik Chorell, Department of Chemistry, at erik.chorell@umu.se.
About us
The Department of Chemistry is one of the largest departments within the Faculty of Science and Technology with approximately 200 employees, of which approximately 40 doctoral students, and a strong and expanding research. The department is located within the Chemical Biological Centre (https://www.umu.se/en/chemical-biological-centre/) at Umeå University and provides excellent facilities and state-of-art equipment and platforms in a creative, inspiring, international, and highly interactive environment. For more information, see http://www.umu.se/en/department-of-chemistry/. Umeå University is located close to the city center and the city, the region, and Northern Sweden have much to offer.
