Overview
A PhD position is available in the group of Professor John Bower at the University of Liverpool. The project will involve the development of green and selective enantioselective cross-coupling and heterocyclisation reactions for use in pharmaceutical development and natural product synthesis.
About this opportunity
A PhD position is available in the group of Professor John Bower at the University of Liverpool (https://bowerresearchgroup.wordpress.com/). The position is funded for 3.5 years and will start in October 2026. The project is aligned with the UoL’s Centre for Translational Molecular Synthesis, a key aim of which is to enhance interactions between chemists involved in Synthetic Methods Development and Medicinal Chemistry. Informal enquiries should be directed to Professor John Bower (john.bower@liverpool.ac.uk).
The research project: The project will involve the development of green and selective enantioselective cross-coupling and heterocyclisation reactions for use in pharmaceutical development and natural product synthesis. The research will encompass synthetic methodology development (including multi-step synthesis), organometallic chemistry, and physical organic chemistry. There is also the option of applying the chemistry in target directed synthesis. For exemplar publications, see: Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2025, 64, e202504477; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144, 16749.
Training: The successful applicant will receive high level training in compound characterisation (NMR analysis etc.), theory/mechanism and transferable skills (e.g. presentations and report writing). The project is aligned with the UoL’s newly formed Centre for Translational Molecular Synthesis, a key aim of which is to enhance interactions between chemists involved in Synthetic Methods Development and Medicinal Chemistry. The Centre also provides enhanced training opportunities for associated PhD students, including: a student led seminar committee, inter-research group problem sets, presentation opportunities, and enhanced interactions with industry.
The successful candidate: We seek a highly motivated individual, who has performed strongly at undergraduate level and envisages pursuing a career in chemical research.
The group environment: The group’s research portfolio encompasses multiple themes, which are all broadly directed at the development of efficient new methods for organic synthesis. In each area we have made high level contributions, and this is reflected in the quality of the group’s publication output (see: https://bowerresearchgroup.wordpress.com/publications/). We are housed in the recently refurbished and state of the art “Regius Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry”.
The laboratory contains 22 custom designed fume cupboards equipped with digitally controlled three stage vacuum systems, Schlenk lines and digital work stations. The laboratory also houses high quality instrumentation and equipment, including a cryogenic reaction station, automated purification systems, a glovebox, an SFC for chiral analysis, a semi-preparative HPLC, and a GCMS. A virtual walk through is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhHhEOaPrP4&feature=youtu.be. Our activities are supported by a recently upgraded cryoprobe-equipped 500 MHz NMR instrument. The group consists of an international mix of highly motivated postdoctoral researchers and PhD students. The group environment is stimulating, supportive and collegiate. The majority of graduating PhD students move onto high level postdoctoral positions or research jobs in pharmaceutical/agrochemical companies.
The department: REF2021 ranked Liverpool Chemistry in the top 10 in the UK for world leading (4*) research and environment, and 3rd in the UK for world leading (4*) impact. The Department’s research interests are many and varied, spanning the entire range of chemistry from theoretical solid-state studies to synthetic work at the biological interface. There are strong interdisciplinary interactions both within Chemistry and across the campus, for example in the Stephenson Institute for Renewable Energy (SIRE) and the Materials Innovation Factory (MIF).