Posts

We are recruiting two PhD students to start in September 2027! Both projects use automation and machine learning to discover new metal-based antibiotics. Funding is open to students worldwide. The two positions have different application routes and deadlines, so please read carefully.

Proud PI moment as the first FreiLab PhD student Dr. Çağrı Özsan successfully passes his Viva at University of York. Çağrı joined before the FreiLab even existed and been part of many of the decisive moments that made the group what it is today.

Our paper on Platinum Cyclooctadiene based antibacterials and their Mode of Action now out in npj Antimicrobials and Resistance. What follows is an account from Çağrı on his path across three countries to get this paper over the line, enjoy!

The Frei Lab took a well-earned break from the bench this week for a group day out to The Deep in Hull, one of the UK’s largest aquariums and home to thousands of sea creatures.

At the end of 2025 my SNSF Ambizione grant came to an end, slightly prematurely, after three and a half years. I thought this would be a good occasion to reflect a bit on how I got this grant, what it did for me/ my career and some thoughts about the future of this funding scheme in the face of a changing funding landscape and shrinking budgets.

Our newest paper on the Combinatorial Synthesis of triazole-based ligands and their metal complexes is now out in Nature Communications. What follows is an account from David the man himself who helmed the majority of this project from start to finish, enjoy!

The Frei Lab returns from an intense week of Bioorganometallic Chemistry at ISBOMC25 in Paris. In-between the scientific program we managed to take in some of the sights and enjoy a bit of french cuisine.

Hi there, Angelo here. We recently published our first paper applying Machine Learning (ML) to the discovery of metalloantibiotics. The Paper is accessible here (Journal Website) or as a Preprint

Two big milestones for the group in September. PhD Student Çağrı Özsan passed hi year one progress report while the groups’s first Master Student Sofia Fulgencio defended her thesis. Lucky for us she is staying on a bit longer as a research assistant to finish up some projects!

A warm welcome to Michael Birbaumer and Robin Knüsel who have joined the lab for a Master and Bachelor Thesis respectively. Robin will synthesize some derivatives of a promising metalloantibiotic while Michael will prepare a new class of ligands for new antimicrobial metal complexes.