Research Assistant Professor

Overview

Job Summary:

Experimentation (50% of time). The chemist will conduct a wide-ranging set of experiments to develop therapies to target novel cancer drivers, with expertise in the development of high-throughput screens to identify molecules (catalytic inhibitors or PROTACs) that target cancer drivers in low nanomolar concentrations for use as hit molecules in drug discovery projects. In vivo experience with mouse models including cell line-based xenografts, patient-derived xenografts, and PK/PD models will be used to understand liabilities of hit molecules and optimize molecules to advance as lead compounds in toxicology studies (e.g., address Herg channel binding, permeability issues, bioavailability, etc.).

A major focus will be the design (primarily) and occasional synthesis of PROTACs, small molecule inhibitors, ADCs, and other proximity-inducing ligands such as RIPTACs.

• Experimentation (50% of time): conduct a wide range of experiments to develop cancer therapies, including high-throughput screening to identify catalytic inhibitors or PROTACs targeting cancer drivers at low nanomolar concentrations; work with in vivo mouse models (cell line xenografts, patient-derived xenografts, PK/PD) to optimize lead molecules for toxicology studies; focus on design (primarily) and occasional synthesis of PROTACs, small molecule inhibitors, ADCs, and other proximity-inducing ligands (e.g., RIPTACs).
• Manuscript Preparation (25% of time): lead preparation of manuscripts related to projects; serve as first-author or corresponding author; demonstrate excellent writing and meticulous figure preparation and data collection.
• Grant Preparation for the lab (25% of time): lead efforts to prepare grants to secure outside funding with a focus on novel therapeutic modalities for treatment of HNSCC, ESCC, LSCC, and ovarian cancer.
• Team lead on patent preparation, patent submission, and licensing (5% of time): act as inventor and contributor on developing new compounds and help advance cancer therapies to the clinic by developing companies.

PhD in medicinal chemistry with a strong publication track record; proficiency in chemical synthesis and drug design; experience leading medicinal chemistry efforts for the Cancer Signaling and Therapeutics Lab at Upstate Medical University; ability to synthesize therapeutic modalities including small molecule inhibitors, PROTACs, RIPTACs, antibody-drug conjugates, and proximity-induced ligands targeting novel cancer targets.

Work Days:
Monday - Friday (Daytime Hours).

Salary Range/Pay Rate:
Please see posting. Recruitment Office:
Aurora Venden, Faculty Affairs & Faculty Development. Application Instructions:
Please submit CV and cover letter with application.