Acta Materia Medica

🇳🇱 Leiden University — PhD in AI-Driven Drug Discovery 🔥 URGENT | MSCA-Funded | Deadline: November 12, 2026 🏫 University: Leiden University 🔬 Laboratory: Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) — Computational Drug Discovery Group 📍 Location: Leiden, Netherlands 🆕 Published: October 15, 2026 📖 Research Project: ANA-KIN DC10 — Deep Learning for Kinase Drug Discovery This PhD focuses on developing artificial intelligence models to discover new cancer therapeutics targeting protein kinases. Unlike conventional kinase inhibitors, which primarily target ATP-binding sites, the project investigates alternative regulatory interfaces to improve drug selectivity and overcome resistance. Research Activities: •Develop deep-learning models for kinase inhibitor discovery. •Integrate chemical, structural, and biophysical datasets. •Predict molecular binding and drug-resistance mechanisms. •Design computational approaches for peptide-based therapeutics. •Apply AI models to experimental drug-discovery workflows. •Develop open-source computational tools. The position includes research secondments at two Belgian partner organizations. 💰 Funding Details: ✅ Fully funded through the Horizon Europe MSCA Doctoral Network ANA-KIN. ✅ Four-year salaried PhD position. ✅ Gross monthly salary: €3,204–€4,051. ✅ Additional 8% holiday allowance. ✅ Additional 8.3% year-end allowance. ✅ University pension and employment benefits. ✅ International research secondments and specialist training. Contract Structure: Initial one-year appointment, extendable for the remaining three years after a positive evaluation. 🔍 Application Requirements: •Master’s degree in Computer Science, AI, Computational Chemistry, Bioinformatics, or a related field. •Experience with machine learning and deep learning, preferably PyTorch. •Knowledge of cheminformatics or computational chemistry. •Excellent Python programming skills. •Strong academic English. •Interest in pharmaceutical research. MSCA Eligibility: •Applicants must not already hold a doctoral degree. •Applicants must not have lived, worked, or studied in the Netherlands for more than 12 months during the preceding 36 months, subject to MSCA exceptions. Required Documents: •Motivation letter confirming MSCA eligibility. •Academic CV. •Academic grade list. •Contact details of two referees. 🕒 Application Deadline: November 12, 2026. ⏳ Time Remaining: 4 Days! ⭐ Why Apply? This is an excellent opportunity to combine artificial intelligence with pharmaceutical research. The project offers a competitive Dutch salary, international research experience, and collaboration with academic and industrial partners. 🔗 Official University Application: careers.universiteitleiden.n… #phd #PhD #phdopportunity #phdposition