The Faculty of Science and Leiden Institute of Chemistry are looking for a:

Postdoc candidate in analytical chemistry / mass spectrometry / proteomics

Vacancy number: 21-648

Key responsibilities

Chemical proteomics is a driving force in biomedicinal and biotechnological research. The Leiden Institute of Chemistry specializes in the development and application of activity-based protein profiling to discover, annotate and manipulate enzymes, or enzyme families, in the context of complex biological systems: a cell extract, a tissue culture or a (model) organism. At the heart of our chemical proteomics research is our mass spectrometry facility with equipment dedicated to the identification and quantification of proteins captured by our activity-based probe. The post-doctoral researcher we are looking for will operate the mass spectrometry equipment and help develop assays with (PhD) students and postdoctoral researchers working on a variety of chemical proteomics programs related to immunology/antigen processing; glycobiology and molecular physiology. The candidate is thus an experienced proteomics or metabolomics researcher with affinity for, or an interest in, chemical biology research.

Selection Criteria

• PhD-degree in analytical biochemistry or equivalent;
• Proven affinity for proteomics, mass spectrometry and/or biochemistry;
• Proficient in English;
• Excellent communication skills.

Terms and conditions

We offer a temporary position, initially for one year and with the option to extend for another two years based on good performance. Salary ranges from € 3,408 to € 4,474 gross per month based on a full time (1.0 fte) employment, (pay scale 10 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.

Our organisation

The Faculty of Science 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 bachelor’s and twelve master’s programs. The faculty has grown strongly in recent years and now has more than 2,300 staff and almost 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. For more information, see https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/science

The chemistry and life science research in the Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC) is organized around two major research areas: ‘Chemical Biology’ and ‘Energy & Sustainability’. Our environment and quality of life is largely determined by chemistry, therefore research at the forefront of molecular and the life sciences is of utmost importance for our future. For example, the next generation of solar cells or batteries, and the improvement of existing as well as the development of new drugs rely on smart chemical solutions. Knowledge of catalysis, synthesis and biological processes on molecular scale will enable us to discover novel processes and products that range from new materials to pharmaceuticals.

The institute’s research themes illustrate the central position of chemistry between biology, medicine and physics. The various research topics carried out within these themes are ideal for executing interdisciplinary research.