Natural Product Chemist And Chemical Biology Postdoc Fellowship : Hamilton, Canada

Genomic and metabolomic mining has created new opportunities for the targeted discovery of novel natural products. These tools will lead to fundamental changes in how we will embrace current and future therapeutic and biotechnological demands. Importantly, these targeted discoveries will open new doors to address disease currently ravaging the developing world (tuberculosis and malaria), as well as serving to define the chemistry of the human microbiome. Six fully-funded postdoctoral positions are available at McMaster University within the laboratory of Dr. Nathan Magarvey, where these research aims are being advanced using innovative, artificial intelligence-driven software platforms to make advances in our understanding of evolved chemical diversity and their associated molecular targets. 
McMaster University is one of North Americas top research institutes for microbial chemical biology and drug discovery research and includes cutting-edge infrastructure to support these areas, including 700 MHz NMR, multiple high-res mass spectrometers, and high-content/high-throughput biological screening. The Magarvey lab has memberships in the M.G. DeGroote of Institute for Infectious Disease Research and the Farncombe Family Digestive Health Research Institute. Successful candidates will have extensive experience with natural product chemistry and small molecule purification, as well experience with methods to define molecular targets and relevant cell biology.

Exceptional candidates will be nominated for the prestigious M.G. DeGroote Fellowship (https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/mgdfa/). Other opportunities for additional fellowship engagement are possible for candidates interested in industrial partnerships with McMaster-start-up Adapsyn Bioscience (http://adapsyn.com/) via MITACS (https://www.mitacs.ca/en/programs/elevate).

Applicants must have:

• Demonstrated a track record of having isolated complex natural products and elucidated their structures via state-of-the-art measurements analysis of mass spectroscopic (MS) fragmentation patterns and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data. The incumbent should also have substantial hands-on experience with high-resolution MS instruments and liquid chromatography (LC) systems.

• Expertise in the use of 1D and 2D NMR experiments for structural elucidation and characterization of metabolites.

• Expertise in the use of LC-MS and LC-MS/MS systems to perform metabolite identification and analysis.

• Knowledge of multiple types of analytical and chromatographic separation techniques (e.g. RP-HPLC, SPE)

• Competency in methods of derivatizing chemical scaffolds with an eye toward pharmacologic and medicinal chemistry design principles.

• An appropriate background in cellular chemical biology and immunology to define the molecular mechanisms of bioactive molecules

• An ability to collect and interpret data using the above methods and write related manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals. Further, it will be expected that applicants present their research works at scientific conferences and internal research meetings.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Excellent interpersonal skills working in a collaborative multi-disciplinary team environment. The Magarvey lab is one based on collaborative research from computational through to the chemical and microbiological sciences. As such a strong orientation toward, and commitment to, cross-functional collaborations (with leaders in deep-learning laboratories, human microbiome research groups and therapeutic-focused cell biologists) is paramount, while also maintaining individual goal setting.

Interested candidates are encouraged to send their applications to the following email address (magarv.lab@gmail.com) with subject heading – PDF_Applicant_Your Name. Applications will include a cover letter (in the cover letter please state when you would be available to start a new position in bold) and CV documenting your publications and any scientific accomplishments. Only successful candidates will be contacted following the review process….