The Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) conducts research into novel active substances to combat infectious diseases. The institute, which is located in Saarbrücken, was jointly founded in August 2009 by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and Saarland University. HIPS established a new research facility on the Saarland University campus in 2015 that currently employs about 200 researchers from around the world. The next few years will see a significant expansion of HIPS’s scientific activities, which will also involve substantial enlargement of the existing buildings and facilities – all of which is being coordinated in close cooperation with Saarland University. HZI/HIPS is a member of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), an association of 35 universities, hospitals and research institutes whose goal is to coordinate and promote translational infection research. In addition to being a well-established scientific network, DZIF members have access to the internal infrastructure and to a wide range of funding options.
Saarland University is a campus university with a pronounced international focus and strong research profile. With a large number of other external research institutes in the vicinity of the university and dedicated support for collaborative research projects, Saarland University is an ideal location for innovation and technology transfer. As part of its continuing drive to expand research excellence and in light of its close involvement with the expansion of the HIPS, Saarland University is looking to further strengthen its position as a leading interdisciplinary research centre. Key areas of research are located at the interface of pharmaceutical science, bioinformatics, informatics, drug development and medicine (NanoBioMed). Scientific research within NanoBioMed is characterized by a strong collaborative culture that finds expression in numerous interinstitutional and transdisciplinary research groups and collaborative research networks. This research ecosystem has evolved over many years and is founded on close collaborative interaction between the university and the numerous on-campus and near campus research institutes of the Helmholtz and Leibniz Associations and the Fraunhofer Society.
To further strengthen their cooperative ties, Saarland University and HIPS are issuing a joint call for applications for a

W2-Professorship in Anti-infective Medicinal
Chemistry (m/f/x; Reference: W2102)

Starting at the earliest opportunity, the professorship is intended as a bridge between the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, especially in pharmacy, and the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland. It is planned to locate this professorship at HIPS. Exploring innovative modes-of-action for the development of novel anti-infective drugs is mandatory to break or circumvent resistance against conventional antibiotics as well as antivirals. We are looking for an expert in the field of medicinal chemistry with a focus on anti-infective drug discovery and development with a proven track record regarding significant research achievements and longtime experience in the fields of antivirulence agents/pathoblockers against Gram-negative pathogens as well as chronic viral infections. Drug discovery achievements addressing Gram-negative pathogens such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and pulmonary infections with clear translational potential should be documented by high-impact publications as well as patent applications. Addressing challenging and underexplored drug targets such as protein-nucleic-acid interactions as well as transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulators by synthetic small-molecular entities is of particular interest. Participation in “active compound initiatives” of Saarland University and the HIPS as well as integration into activities within the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) is expected. We expect the successful applicant to have proven expertise in the field of medicinal chemistry and fragment- as well as peptide-based drug design by means of publications in leading international journals and conference contributions. In addition, the position holder should set up an internationally recognized working group in the field of translational drug discovery & development with a focus on anti-infectives, over the next five years. We are looking for an upcoming young researcher with a growing international reputation in their field and an outstanding record in both teaching and research who will contribute significantly to the progress of ongoing projects and will play a key role in establishing new interdisciplinary and interfaculty collaborative projects. The appointment will be made in accordance with the general provisions of German public sector employment law. Candidates must have experience in and an aptitude for academic teaching. They will have a PhD or doctorate in an appropriate subject and will have demonstrated a capacity for high-quality, independent research either through a Habilitation or advanced scientific work at a level equivalent to a German Habilitation or by having been appointed to a junior professorship. We expect applicants to have published high-quality academic papers on relevant topics and to have experience in securing external funding especially for research projects. The successful candidate will also be expected to contribute innovative teaching concepts at all academic levels (Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral programmes, state exam in pharmacy), to teach in German and English, to provide dedicated supervision to students working on their final-year theses and to support and foster junior researchers. At Saarland University, we view internationalization as a process spanning all aspects of university life. We therefore expect members of our professorial staff to engage in activities that promote and foster further internationalization. Special support will be provided for projects that continue with or expand on collaborative interactions within existing international cooperative networks, e.g. projects with partners in the European University Alliance Transform4Europe (www.transform4europe.eu) or the University of the Greater Region (www.uni-gr.eu). In accordance with the objectives of its affirmative action plan for women, Saarland University is actively seeking to increase the proportion of women in this field. Qualified women candidates are therefore strongly encouraged to apply. The university has been audited as a family-friendly university and offers a wide range of services for balancing family and career (https://www.unisaarland.de/page/audit.html). Preferential consideration will be given to applications from disabled candidates of equal eligibility (contact: https://www.unisaarland.de/verwaltung/schwerbehinderte.html). To apply for this position, please submit your application by no later than 23 June 2022 via Saarland University’s online professorial appointments platform: www.uni-saarland.de/berufungen. Application documents must be uploaded as a PDF file (max.10 MB) and should include the following documents: letter of application (addressed to the dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, Prof. Dr. Jörn Walter); CV/résumé (including your home address, telephone number and email address); copies of relevant academic qualifications; a list of publications, a summary of your previous experience in academic teaching and research (incl. teaching appraisals, if available); types of external funding secured and amounts; a two-page paper detailing your teaching concept as well as a concept for the promotion of early stage researchers and in particular of women and a twopage research concept; and your three most significant publications of the last five years. When you submit an application to Saarland University you will be transmitting personal data. Please refer to our privacy notice for information on how we collect and process personal data in accordance with Art. 13 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (www.uni-saarland.de/ data protection). By submitting your application you confirm that you have taken note of the information in the Saarland University privacy notice.