Postdoctoral fellow – Crop Protection Research Chemistry (m/f/d)

Natural products (NPs) are molecular “special equipment” that impart survival benefits on their producers in nature. Their evolved ability to modulate biological processes makes these privileged compounds excellent starting points for innovative agrochemicals, and they are increasingly prevalent in the modern crop protection market. Examples include recently approved semi-synthetic active ingredients like fenpicoxamid and afidopyropen, as well as synthetic mimics of strigolactone phytohormones with potential for sustainable agricultural applications. As a Postdoctoral Fellow in Research Chemistry at the interface with our Natural Product and Biomolecular Chemistry Unit (NPBC), you will join a multidisciplinary team to investigate NPs exhibiting biocontrol or biostimulant activities with new modes of action relevant to crop protection. You will contribute to identifying high-interest starting points for agrochemical crop protection research. Your responsibilities will include designing, developing, and executing state-of-the-art synthetic routes to obtain samples of natural products and/or their structural analogs for early biological evaluation. 

Role purpose: 

Conducting natural products research and synthesis in discovery within the Natural Product and Biomolecular Chemistry Unit, specifically targeting secondary metabolites with biocontrol and biostimulant properties. This role involves investigating through total synthesis and/or semi-synthetic approaches, privileged metabolites with potential agricultural applications, contributing to the expanding modern crop protection market.

Accountabilities: 

• Lead the synthesis, and optimization of natural products (NPs) with specific modes of action, including biosynthetic approaches and structural analog development.
• Provide scientific leadership, technical guidance, and continuous improvement initiatives in NP operations, ensuring best practices in experimental design, execution, and data analysis. 
• Collaborate across Chemistry, Biologicals, and other relevant functions to ensure seamless end-to-end delivery of the CPR portfolio where NPs are involved. 
• Analyze complex datasets, apply cross-functional knowledge, and leverage digital tools to generate insights and guide decision-making. 
• Maintain an external networks with academic institutions, industrial partners, and technology providers to enhance NP capabilities and deliver on the Biologicals strategy. 
• Contribute to intellectual property (IP) strategy by identifying protectable innovations and understanding relevant IP landscapes. 
• Contribute to biocontrol or biostimulant projects centered on NPs, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and delivery against critical success factors. 
• Foster a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment that accelerates compound development and enhances project outcomes.