Lennart Bunch

CV

ASSESMENTS

• 2017     Qualified as Full Professor in medicinal chemistry

EMPLOYMENT

• 2006 – present    Associate Prof., Group leader, Bunch Research Group
• 2015  (Mar-Jun)   Visiting Professor at Dept. Chem., University of Oxford, UK
• 2003 – 2006        Assistant Prof., Dept. of Medicinal Chemistry, KU
• 2002 – 2003        Postdoc, Department of Chemistry, DTU

• Marts 16, 2009             Co- Founder of Hugin Neurochemicals (50% ownership)

• Sep 1998 – Feb 2002    Ph.D. in organic chemistry/medicinal chemistry, KU 
• Aug 1996 – Aug 1998    M.Sc. in organic chemistry, Florida State University, USA 
• Jan 1992 – Jul 1996      B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, DTU, Denmark

• Jun 2007 – Dec 2007     Leadership in research environments, CBS
• Aug 2006 – Aug 2007    Higher Education Teaching and Teaching Practice, KU

• Nov 2011 – May 2014  DSFTM: President (www.dsftm.dk)
• May 2008 – May 2014  EFMC: Member of the Council (www.efmc.info)
• May 2008 – Oct 2011   DSFTM: Member of the Board and Head of the MedChem Section (www.dsftm.dk)
• Apr 2007 – Dec 2010    Brain, Mind, and Medicines – an interdisciplinary research network at KU: Vice coordinator and member of the steering group (www.bmm.ku.dk)
• Aug 1999 – Jan 2002     PhD study board, DFU: Elected member of the board
• Feb 1999 – Aug 2000     Depart. of Med. Chem, DFU: Elected member of the board

Short presentation

Ever since my first experience with organic chemistry as an undergraduate, I have been spellbound with this field of research: The ability of mankind to synthesize any compound of interest and hereafter investigate how a structural change affects its biological activity. The intellectual aspect of rational drug design and synthesis is to me captivating and motivates me every day I go to work.

My passion for natural science made it easy for me to choose my undergraduate studies as a chemical engineer with special focus on organic synthesis and quantum chemistry. My eager to learn more and understand the fundamentals of organic chemistry drove me to pursue a 2-year master study at Florida State University (FSU) in the USA. Accepting an offer of full tuition-waiver and a teaching position at FSU, those two years of intensive study made it clear to me that I wanted to establish a research group in academia within the field of organic and medicinal chemistry.

Returning to my home country for a PhD study in organic chemistry/medicinal chemistry was an easy choice for me. The topic of my thesis was new ligands for the glutamat receptors - a fascinating field within CNS research! Changing my focus for a while, I chose to do my postdoc at DTU in Denmark within organometallic chemistry developing new methodology.

My determinacy to pursue an academic career prompted me to apply for a three-year Assistant Professorship through the Danish Research Foundation, and was granted this in 2003 within the field of glutamatergic neurotransmission.

In 2006, I was promoted to Associate Professor and began to build-up my own research group – the Bunch Research Group

SCIENTIFIC KEY QUALIFICATIONS

• Organic and Medicinal Chemistry at the highest international level
• Organic Chemistry: Multi-step synthesis and development of new methodology
• Computer-aided molecular modelling and Rational ligand/drug-design
• The Glutamatergic Neurotransmitter System, in the Central Nervous System

Teaching

• PhD course Advanced Medicinal and Organic Chemistry (AMOC) (6 ECTS points). Establisher and course-leader of the. The course runs every other year, next time April-June 2016

• Organic Chemistry 1 for BSc students in pharmacy (7.5 ECTS points, lectures, problem sessions and lab work). Course leader and organizer