The University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pioneering scientific research and play an important service-providing role in society. We are one of the largest, most international and most innovative employers in the region. With more than 6000 employees from 100 different countries, we are helping to build tomorrow's world every day. Through top scientific research, we push back boundaries and set a course for the future – a future that you can help to shape.
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical, Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences has the following full-time vacancy:
graduate teaching & research assistant in the field of Medicinal chemistry and/or Chemical biology
Position
As a graduate teaching & research assistant, you will be part of the Academic Assistant Staff (Dutch: Assisterend Academisch Personeel, AAP). You will spend at least 50% of your working time preparing a PhD thesis. In addition, you will play an assisting role in teaching, research and service activities.
PhD research
- You will work actively on the preparation and defence of a PhD thesis in one of the research topics of the group in the field of Medicinal chemistry and Chemical biology. This PhD project focuses on developing inhaled ferroptosis inhibitors as a new approach to treating lung infections. By targeting lung epithelial cells, the goal is to reduce the ability of pathogens to cause severe disease. Pathogens of particular interest include clinically relevant bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Combining medicinal chemistry and chemical biology, this research aims both to optimize inhibitors specifically for inhalation therapy and to investigate their mechanisms of action within infection models.
- You will organise your own PhD research and report on your progress regularly.
- You will participate in the doctoral study programme at the Antwerp Doctoral School to support your PhD pathway.
- You will present the findings of your PhD research at academic conferences and you will publish them in scientific journals.
Education
- You will provide support with teaching and also teach high-quality academic classes yourself in the following Bachelor and Master courses in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Organic chemistry (Ba 1, 30 hours) Pharmaceutical chemistry (Ba 2, 88 hours), Advanced pharmaceutical chemistry and radiochemistry (Ma 1, 38 hours) and Cheminformatics and computational drug design (Ma 1, 21 hours).
- Your teaching role will evolve along with the study programmes.
- You will assist in the development of teaching and study materials, evaluations, etc.
- You will supervise students and their Bachelor and Master dissertations.
Research
- You will assist in ongoing research projects and the activities of the Medicinal Chemistry research group (UAMC).
Services
- You will play an active role in the academic and societal service provision of the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences. You will also assist in student recruitment and alumni activities and serve on boards and committees, among other activities.
Profile
- You hold a Master degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, Bio-Engineering, Chemical Engineering or you will have obtained it by the time you start work.
- You can demonstrate good study results.
- Your research qualities are in line with the faculty and university research policies.
- Your teaching competences are in line with the University of Antwerp’s educational vision.
- You are motivated to work actively on your further professional development.
- You act with attention to quality, integrity, creativity and cooperation.
What we offer
- We offer an appointment as a graduate teaching & research assistant for a period of two years. Following a positive evaluation, the appointment can be renewed twice up to a maximum period of six years.
- Your gross monthly salary is calculated according to the pay scale for an assistant (Academic Assistant Staff, AAP).
- You will receive ecocheques, Internet-connectivity allowance and a bicycle allowance or a full reimbursement of public transport costs for commuting.
- The planned start date is October 1, 2025.
- You will do most of your work at Campus Drie Eiken in a dynamic and stimulating working environment.
- Find out more about working at the University of Antwerp here and discover all the other benefits.
Want to apply?
- You can apply for this vacancy through the University of Antwerp’s online job application platform up to and including July 14, 2025 (by midnight Brussels time). Click on 'apply', complete the online application form and don’t forget to include the following document(s): (1) a motivation letter and (2) your CV.
- The selection committee will review all of the applications as soon as possible after the application deadline. As soon as a decision has been made, we will inform you about the next steps in the selection procedure.
- If you have any questions about the online application form, please check the frequently asked questions or send an email to jobs@uantwerpen.be. If you have any questions about the job itself, please contact Professor Koen Augustyns, spokesperson of the group of Medicinal Chemistry via e-mail: koen.augustyns@uantwerpen.be.
The University of Antwerp received the European Commission’s HR Excellence in Research Award for its HR policy. We are a sustainable, family-friendly organisation which invests in its employees’ growth. We encourage diversity and attach great importance to an inclusive working environment and equal opportunities, regardless of gender identity, disability, race, ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation or age. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds and with diverse characteristics to apply.
