Teaser Text
The Faculty of Science and the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) are looking for a:
Postdoctoral candidate for next generation GPCR drug discovery
Are you excited about developing cutting-edge drug modalities within an ambitious and interdisciplinary research team? In this position, you will advance an innovative drug discovery workflow to enable the identification of membrane receptor ligands. This project is a collaboration between the Pomplun lab and the Heitman labs and builds on our recent works (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65282-1 and https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20605). Join our team in the https://pomplunlab.com and https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/staffmembers/laura-heitman#tab-1 at Leiden University!
What you will do
Project objectives are:
- Develop expression and purification methodologies for GPCRs
- Develop and optimize affinity selection protocols against solubilized/bead immobilized GPCRs
- Screen combinatorial small molecule libraries in the developed workflows
- Validate hits in functional biochemical and cellular assays
What you bring
We are looking for a highly motivated scientist with:
- A PhD in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, or a related field
- Strong background in protein expression and purification, ideally membrane proteins
- Affinity for early drug discovery
- Basic coding skills (e.g., Python, KNIME, or similar)
- A strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals
- Scientific curiosity, creativity, and a goal-oriented research mindset
- An appreciation for interdisciplinary work and a proactive collaborative attitude
- Excellent English communication skills and strong interpersonal abilities
Where you will work
Faculty
The Faculty of Science at Leiden University is a world-class faculty where staff and students work together in a dynamic international environment. It is a faculty where personal and academic development are top priorities. Our people are committed to expand fundamental knowledge by curiosity and to look beyond the borders of their own discipline; their aim is to benefit science, and to make a contribution to addressing the major societal challenges of the future.
The research carried out at the Faculty of Science is very diverse, ranging from mathematics, information science, astronomy, physics, chemistry and bio-pharmaceutical sciences to biology and environmental sciences. The research activities are organized in eight institutes. These institutes offer eight bachelors’ and twelve master’s programs. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,300 staff and over 5,000 students. We are located at the heart of Leiden’s Bio Science Park, one of Europe’s biggest science parks, where university and business life come together.
You will work in the modern laboratories of the Leiden Academic Centre for Drug research (LACDR). State of the art equipment for the project is available (cell culture, molecular biology lab, automated synthesizers, synthesis facilities, platereaders, biolayer interferometry, etc.). You will receive supportive supervision both for your project, the publication process and your future career. The position is offered in the context of the Oncode Accelerator program which offers embedding in a high profile Dutch drug discovery system.
University
Leiden University is one of Europe’s leading international research universities.
Thanks to its committed and inspired employees, the university enjoys a leading role in academic research and education. Leiden also scores very well every year in prominent rankings. This means that, to maintain our position, the bar is set very high. Regardless of the work you do at our university, you are always encouraged to broaden your horizons, develop your talents and reach your full potential. Will you become our newest colleague?
What we offer
We offer a full-time appointment of up to three years (first contract for 1 year with option to extend to three years). Salary ranges from € 3.546,-- to € 5.538,-- gross per month (pay scale 10, depending on experience), in accordance with the Collective Labour Agreement for Dutch Universities.
Leiden University offers an attractive benefits package with additional holiday (8%) and end-of-year bonuses (8.3 %), training and career development and sabbatical leave. Our individual choices model gives you some freedom to assemble your own set of terms and conditions. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may be eligible for a substantial tax break. For more information ( https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/working-at/job-application-procedure-and-employment-conditions), see the website.
What we value
Promoting an inclusive community is central to Leiden University’s values and vision. We strive to be an open community in which all students and staff members feel valued and respected, and are able to fully develop themselves. We consider an inclusive academic environment, where students and staff can share their experiences and viewpoints, to be essential for the development of talent.
Want to apply or find out more?
If you have questions about this position, please contact Dr. Sebastian Pomplun, s.j.pomplun@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl or Prof. Laura Heitman l.h.heitman@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl.
Are you enthusiastic about this vacancy? We are looking forward to get to know you. Please submit your application online. Please ensure that you upload the following additional documents (all in English):
- Cover Letter that should contain clear statements about the motivation for the project, the mentioned selection criteria and the personal fit for the position.
- Curriculum vitae with publication list
- Copies of transcripts of degrees obtained
- Contact details of two references
Only applications received before 16 May 2026 can be considered.