This postdoctoral researcher position aims to improve the design of Oligonucleotide-based drugs using computational chemistry, biophysical simulation and AI methods. It is placed at the department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at Chalmers/GU and is one of two postdoctoral positions in a joint project with Pharmacology at GU. The project is funded in a collaboration between the two largest research programs in Sweden, the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP) and the SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), with the ultimate goal of solving ground-breaking research questions across disciplines.
Information about project
The two postdoctoral researchers will closely collaborate and will be jointly supervised by both PIs, Alexander Schliep (CSE, University of Gothenburg | Chalmers, https://schlieplab.org) and Pär Matsson (Pharmacology, University of Gothenburg, https://www.gu.se/en/research/cellular-and-molecular-pharmacokinetics), and spend time in both labs.
Close ties to the OligoNova Hub at the University of Gothenburg (part of SciLifeLab’s Drug Discovery and Development platform) and the considerable research activities at AstraZeneca R&D Gothenburg, provide a vibrant research environment in the exciting new area of computational design of oligonucleotide therapeutics.
The PIs have extensive expertise in machine learning, AI for drug design, predicting oligonucleotide hybridization energies, as well as modeling and simulation of cellular pharmacology, measuring cellular drug disposition, and quantification of binding kinetics and –energetics of small-molecule and oligonucleotide therapeutics. Additionally, the project involves collaboration with Rula Zain’s research group (Karolinska Institutet) to identify clinically relevant target genes in rare diseases and evaluate predicted oligonucleotide candidates in in vitro and in vivo models. Consequently, the postdoctoral position will position candidates uniquely to develop independent research programs and pursue distinguished careers in academia or industry.