PhDPosition(StartingMarch2012) NaturalProductSynthesis/MedicinalChemistry

SchoolofChemicalSciences

APhDstudentshipisavailableunderthesupervisionofProfMargaretBrimble,in theareaofnaturalproductsynthesisand/ormedicinalchemistry. NaturalproductshavelongbeenregardedasNaturesmedicinechestproviding a rich source of lead compounds to synthesise for pharmaceutical development. Thesenaturallyoccurringbioactivecompoundsproviderichanddiversechemical structures that challenge the synthetic chemist to develop new synthetic methodology for construction of the novel and diverse heterocyclic motifs that theycontain. Our research in synthetic organic and medicinal chemistry focuses on the development of flexible synthetic approaches to naturally occurring bioactive compounds that have been isolated from plants, animals and microbes. These compounds often possess a range of interesting biological activities such as antitumour,antibacterialandagainstdiseasessuchastuberculosis,malariaand diseases affecting the central nervous system but yet they are rare or hard to isolateinabundanceforfurtherbiologicalstudies. Prospective candidates should have a strong BSc (Hons) or MSc background in organic synthesis and/or medicinal chemistry with good organisation and communicationskills. ExpressionsofInterest

Interested candidates should submit a CV and academic transcript by email to ProfMargaretBrimble(m.brimble@auckland.ac.nz) SchoolofChemicalSciences TheUniversityofAuckland