Dreaming of small molecule drug design

What made you choose the MSc in Medicinal Chemistry?

I took a Bachelor’s degree in Medicinal Chemistry at the UCPH Chemistry Department and it seemed like a natural follow up. I am interested in medicinal chemistry and organic chemistry. I think it is a nice combination of organic chemistry and the more medicinal field.

Medicinal Chemistry is organic chemistry combined with the medicinal development of pharmaceutical drugs, so it is combined with some of the more pharmaceutical subjects. It is good because you have the interaction between the different scientific subjects. Which is different from if you only took a MSc in Chemistry.

So far I have e.g. learned a lot about the development of drugs. And also the use of computers to use for the development of drugs, to do structure based drug design.

Which expectations did you have when you started at the MSc in Medicinal Chemistry?

I expected good organic chemistry and also some insights into the pharmaceutical industry and the people you are going to interact with, pharmacists and professions like that. And my expectations actually have been met. For example, I can to some degree choose my own courses. So I can actually create the profile that I want.

Study Environment

I think it is a good study environment. I am not originally from the UCPH Pharmaceutical Department, but I felt really welcome when I came here. There is a good welcome with an introduction week and a nice introduction to the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

I definitely think it is important to have a good social study environment and to find somebody you can actually study with. For example, it makes the exam preparations a lot better if you can practice in front of another student who understands you and can ask intelligent questions.

Thesis and Job Opportunities

I just signed my thesis contract. I am going to synthesis on small molecules active on nicotine acetylcholine receptors.

I see a lot of job opportunities, because Medicon Valley is right here in the region and I always think that there is need for an organic synthetic chemist. Right now, I think my dream job would be at company like Lundbeck or Leo Pharma doing small molecule design of drugs.