Research Fellow – Peptide Chemistry & Drug Discovery

About the role

The successful candidate will join Dr. Alexander Vinogradov's laboratory at the Kent Ridge Campus to develop late‑stage peptide modification and cyclization strategies for mRNA‑display‑based drug discovery. The project focuses on creating novel cyclic peptides that target therapeutically important proteins.

Key responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments in synthetic organic chemistry, peptide chemistry, and chemical biology.
• Analyze experimental data, optionally applying deep‑learning techniques.
• Prepare research findings for peer‑reviewed journals and international conferences.
• Present oral updates in group meetings and provide written progress reports.
• Maintain and troubleshoot laboratory equipment and instrumentation.

Required profile

• PhD in organic chemistry, peptide chemistry, combinatorial chemistry, chemical biology, bio‑organic chemistry or related field.
• 3–5 years of primary research experience preferred; recent PhD graduates are also welcome.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

Required skills

• Synthetic organic chemistry, including air‑free techniques and aqueous syntheses.
• Late‑stage modification of complex molecules.
• Peptide chemistry: solid‑phase peptide synthesis, peptide modification and analytical characterization.
• Analytical techniques: LC/MS, HPLC, UV‑Vis spectroscopy, NMR.
• Optional: application of deep‑learning methods for data analysis.