Synthetic Organic Chemist (m/f/d) (18/2025)

The Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry in Halle (Saale), a research institution of the Leibniz Association, is seeking to fill a researcher / postdoctoral fellow position in the Department of Bioorganic Chemistry (Prof. Dr. Wessjohann): Synthetic Organic Chemist (m/f/d) (Salary group E13 TV-L, full-time (part-time is possible), temporary till September 30, 2027)

The Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB) is a non-university research institution of the Leibniz Association on the Weinberg Campus of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg. As a foundation under public law, the IPB is under direct supervision of the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The IPB is an internationally recognized research institution and consists of four scientific Departments and additional independent research groups (approx. 200 employees, including around 40 doctoral students). Research at the IPB aims to understand the (bio)chemical basis of plant resilience and performance in challenging environments related to climate change. The IPB offers excellent research facilities and state-of-the-art infrastructure to study the chemical diversity, biochemical interactions and biological functions of small natural product molecules in and from plants and fungi ( https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/ ).

• Research topic: Your work will be focused on syntheses of bioactive compounds of natural and non-natural origin, lead optimization, conjugation, e.g. to peptides or dyes for targeting and ADME studies, and on the completion of scientific papers. You will be involved in several projects in cooperation with the departmental project groups “phytoeffectors”, “cancer agents & targeting”, “neuroactives”, and “peptides and mimetics”, support guests and PhD students to complete their theses, and with publications. Your tasks:
• Total and semi-synthesis of natural products and bioactives
• Reaction and compound library design
• Conjugation to targeting moieties and probes, especially fluorescent ones
• Support of virtual and biological screening and QSAR based optimization
• Documentation and presentation of results, drafting publications and patents
• Lab supervision of students, support of guest scientists

• PhD in Organic Chemistry
• Experience in drafting scientific publications and patents
• Expert in Organic Synthesis of Functional Organic Molecules, their purification, and spectroscopic and physicochemical characterization
• Expert knowledge in multi component reactions and fluorescent dyes
• Experience in guiding students
• Excellent scientific English, e.g. proven by publications or a professional period in an English speaking country
• Experienced with Windows Office, ChemDraw and Statistical Analysis Software
• Independent, self-critical, careful, and structured approach to work
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills