PhD Position in Amino Acid Transporters at SDU in Odense
Role highlights
Full Time
Permanent
Entry
On-site
This PhD position at the University of Southern Denmark focuses on amino acid transporters as drug targets, particularly in cancer research. The candidate will engage in designing allosteric inhibitors targeting transporters with LeuT-fold structures such as LAT1, SNAT2, and PAT1. Key technical skills include computational modeling using tools like AlphaFold 3.0, analysis of protein structures, ligand information, and working with make-on-demand compound libraries. Practical laboratory experience with in vitro cell systems is essential to evaluate inhibitor efficacy. The role requires a strong background in pharmacy, specifically with experience in amino acid transporters and their pharmaceutical applications. The successful candidate must demonstrate strong motivation at the interface of pharmacy and chemistry, reflecting interdisciplinary research skills. Excellent proficiency in both written and spoken English and Danish is required for effective communication within an international, cross-disciplinary research team. The position offers training in drug transporter biology within the ADME framework, focusing on SLC and ABC superfamily transporters, with work involving cell cultures and preclinical animal models. The candidate will benefit from a collaborative environment promoting career development and mentoring. The department emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach combining physics, chemistry, and pharmacy, with a focus on health-related challenges. Overall, this role demands a solid foundation in pharmaceutical sciences, computational biology, and molecular pharmacology, with the ability to integrate computational and experimental methods to develop novel cancer therapeutics targeting amino acid transporters.
About the role
Role Summary
- One PhD position in pharmacy available in the group of Professor Carsten Uhd Nielsen
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Southern Denmark (SDU), Odense
- Start date: 1 April 2026 or as soon as possible thereafter
- Position is a 5+3 PhD
Project Background
- Focus on amino acid transporters as drug targets, especially in cancer
- Challenge: substrate overlap between transporters makes selective inhibitor development difficult
- Project aims to design allosteric inhibitors for transporters with LeuT-fold structure (LAT1, SNAT2, PAT1)
- Methods: computational modeling (AlphaFold3.0), protein structures, ligand information, make-on-demand compound libraries, in vitro cell systems
- Goal: find specific and selective inhibitors to alter cancer cell growth and develop novel drugs
Research Group
- Drug Transporters in ADME group studies SLC and ABC superfamily drug transporters
- Work mainly in cell cultures and preclinical animals
- International, cross-disciplinary, and gender-balanced team
- Offers excellent training, mentoring, and career development
Requirements
- MSc in Pharmacy
- Experience with amino acid transporters
- Experience with pharmaceutical application of drug transporters
- Strong motivation and interest in pharmacy and chemistry interface
- Excellent written and spoken English and Danish
About the Department
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Pharmacy is part of the Faculty of Science, SDU
- Located in Odense
- Focus on energy, environment, health, and sustainability
- Interdisciplinary approach across physics, chemistry, and pharmacy
- Recognized nationally and internationally
- Read more about the department's vision
- The PhD candidate will be part of the Pharmacy section: Pharmacy section researchers
How to Apply
- Application deadline: 6 February 2026 at 23:59 local Danish time
- See the full call and application instructions at www.sdu.dk
- Please mention in your application that you found the job at Jobindex
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