Career Center

Scientist or Senior Scientist, high-throughput screening, fragment-based drug discovery
Small Molecule Discovery Center
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
University of California, San Francisco

The Small Molecule Discovery Center (SMDC) at UCSF is seeking a highly collaborative biochemist, biophysicist, or structural biologist with a passion for chemical biology and drug discovery. The SMDC is a research collaboratory that works with UCSF and external researchers to develop chemical probes and drug leads using a variety of methods, including fragment-based drug discovery and high-throughput screening. The successful applicant will implement biophysical and structural technologies such as surface plasmon resonance, mass spectrometry, and high-throughput crystallography to discover and validate small-molecule probes and leads. We have a particular interest in addressing so-called ‘undruggable’ targets. Scientists who enjoy working on diverse methodologies and thrive in a team-oriented, multi-disciplinary environment are ideally suited for this position.
The position will report to Dr. Michelle Arkin, Professor and Chair of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. The Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry is one of the three departments in the School of Pharmacy, one of the top ranked schools of Pharmacy in the US. When biomedical research at UCSF uncovers new potential targets for drug discovery, the SMDC works with researchers to develop chemical tools and drug leads to further understand and exploit these targets for human health.

To learn about our science, visit our websites at:
https://pharm.ucsf.edu/smdc
https://pharm.ucsf.edu/arkin

Responsibilities include:

• Working with investigators to translate biological questions into high-throughput screens
• Designing, automating, and performing fragment-based screens and other biochemical and biophysical high-throughput assays
• Analyzing and visualizing data in HiTS, the SMDCs’ informatics platform
• Developing secondary mechanistic assays and hit-validation workflows
• Working with medicinal and computational chemists to design and test analogs
• Performing other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications

• PhD and at least three years of post-doctoral experience
• Experience in quantitative biochemistry and/or enzymology
• Expertise in at least one method of biophysics (SPR, NMR, mass spectrometry) or structural biology (x-ray crystallography, cryo-EM)
• Enthusiasm for working in a team research environment, with demonstrated skills in collaboration
• Strong written and communication skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with high-throughput screening automation
• Experience in medicinal or computational chemistry
• Employment in biotech or pharmaceutical sector

Salary will be commensurate with the applicant’s experience and training.

Applicants should submit a brief cover letter and a curriculum vitae. Please apply online and submit these documents along with the contact information for at least two references to: https://aprecruit.ucsf.edu/JPF03188.

UCSF seeks candidates whose experience, teaching, research, or community service has prepared them to contribute to our commitment of diversity and excellence. The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status.