PhD in Related Area

Fixed-term: The funds for this post are available for 3 years./nMarie Sklodowska-Curie Early Stage Researcher (MSC-ESR) Fellowship to work with Professor Goncalo Bernardes on the control of ADC payload release in Cambridge./nThe project aims to develop a systematic strategy for tuning payload release rates by modulating the structure of para-aminobenzyloxycarbonyl (PABA) linker units./nThe successful candidate will work at the interface of organic synthesis, chemical biology, and machine learning to guide linker design and optimise ADC performance against acute myeloid leukaemia (AML)./nLaboratory experiments and machine learning models will be implemented to: develop a random forest regression model to predict pKa values of payloads using tabulated steric and electronic descriptors; synthesize novel PABA-derived linkers and prepare conjugates using model compounds; measure pKa and release behaviour and iteratively refine ML models with experimental outputs; apply the workflow to generate an ADC targeting AML, validated using in vitro assays (payload release, cell viability, patient samples) and in vivo disease models./nProject forms part of EC Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Training Network (LowDataML) with academic and industrial teams across Europe. Collaboration opportunities include secondments, yearly summer schools and attendance at international meetings.