Boğaziçi University: PhD Trainee – AI-Driven Drug Discovery

Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Türkiye, is seeking a highly motivated PhD student to join a cutting-edge multidisciplinary research program. This position sits at the intersection of Machine Learning, Structural Biology, and Cheminformatics, focusing on identifying “undruggable” targets in the human proteome and designing novel ligands through generative AI.

Position Overview

Role: PhD Trainee / Student
Location: Department of Chemistry, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Türkiye
Start Date: Fall 2026 (Flexible)
Application Deadline: April 30, 2026

Core Responsibilities

The successful candidate will be integral to building the lab’s computational and experimental capabilities, focusing on:

Model Development: Creating ML models for protein structure and chemical compound analysis.
Target Discovery: Using structural and chemical proteomics datasets to find novel drug-binding pockets.
Generative Modeling: Applying Diffusion, Graph-based, or Transformer-based models for de novo molecule design.
Workflow Integration: Incorporating protein structural features into predictive pipelines.
Collaboration: Working closely with experimental teams for target validation and probe development.

Candidate Profile

Required Qualifications:

Education: MSc or BSc in Computer Science, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Cheminformatics, or related fields.
Technical Skills: Strong proficiency in Python and a solid background in Data Science/ML.
Interest: A deep passion for structural biology and the pharmaceutical sciences.

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with deep learning frameworks like PyTorch or TensorFlow.
Experience with domain-specific tools such as BioPython or RDKit.
Previous exposure to interdisciplinary research environments.

Why Join This Lab?

High-Impact Research: Contribute to uncovering previously undruggable sites in the human proteome.
Resources: Access to high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure.
Interdisciplinary Growth: Work in an environment that combines computational modeling with chemical synthesis and experimental validation (Design–Make–Test cycles).

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email their CV and/or informal transcript directly to the Principal Investigator:

Email: fettah.erdogan@bogazici.edu.tr

Note: Boğaziçi University is a leading research institution in Türkiye with a strong international reputation. Ensure your application highlights your programming projects or any research experience related to AI or Biology.