Funded PhD: The development of protein targeting platinum-based anticancer drugs

• Principal investigator(s) Dr Darren Griffith
• Research theme Cancer, Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences

A Science Foundation Ireland (SFI, FFP-P) funded PhD position is available in the Apjohn Laboratory in the Chemistry Department of RCSI working under the supervision of Dr Darren Griffith.

You will be working on a medicinal inorganic chemistry project. There is an important need to better understand the multifaceted mechanisms of action of Pt drugs and in particular the role that Pt(II) protein binding plays.

This will help identify new druggable targets for the development of next generation Pt drugs. Furthermore the clinical success of existing Pt drugs is limited by intrinsic and acquired resistance.

Strategies to sidestep Pt resistance are urgently required. The project will entail synthetic design, organic and inorganic synthesis and purification of target molecules or complexes.

Tenure: Four years

Start date: 1 September 2023

Specification

Minimum requirements:

• Upper Second Class (2.1) honours degree (or equivalent) in chemistry or chemistry-based degree (e.g. chemical biology or medicinal chemistry, etc.)
• Final year chemistry students are encouraged to apply as a provisional offer can be be made subject to the grade requirement outlined being met

Desirable candidate specifications include:

• Candidates should ideally have undergraduate chemistry laboratory experience and undertaken a chemistry-based research project

Application process

Applications must include:

• A completed application form
• English language requirements (non-native English speakers are expected to have at least 6.5 in IELTS –academic – or equivalent). Find more information here.