Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Biology (Cancer Drug Discovery)

At Moffitt Cancer Center, we strive to be the leader in understanding the complexity of cancer and applying these insights to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Our diverse team of over 9,000 are dedicated to serving our patients and creating a workspace where every individual is recognized and appreciated. For this reason, Moffitt has been recognized on the 2023 Forbes list of America’s Best Large Employers and America’s Best Employers for Women, Computerworld magazine’s list of 100 Best Places to Work in Information Technology, DiversityInc Top Hospitals & Health Systems and continually named one of the Tampa Bay Time’s Top Workplace. Additionally, Moffitt is proud to have earned the prestigious Magnet® designation in recognition of its nursing excellence. Moffitt is a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, and the leading cancer hospital in both Florida and the Southeast. We are a top 10 nationally ranked cancer center by Newsweek and have been nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report since 1999.
Working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. Join our committed team and help shape the future we envision.

Summary

Postdoctoral Fellow in Chemical Biology (Cancer Drug Discovery)   

The Rix lab at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute (Tampa, FL) is seeking a highly motivated and collaborative chemical biologist and/or molecular biologist to join a comprehensive drug discovery program to identify and validate novel cancer-relevant targets that serve as starting points for collaborative drug discovery efforts.

We are conducting highly interdisciplinary research focused on target identification, functional target validation and systems biology approaches towards elucidating cancer cell vulnerabilities and drug mechanisms of action using cellular compound screening, proteomics, molecular biology, biochemistry and bioinformatics. For further information on our laboratory and research program, please visit – https://moffitt.org/research-science/researchers/uwe-rix/

Position Highlights:

• The successful candidate will be involved in screening fragment-like small molecules in cancer cells, performing mass spectrometry-based chemical proteomics to identify target proteins and conducting biochemical and cellular validation assays of new cancer targets.
• The position will allow the candidate to develop valuable new skills and experience in chemical biology, proteomics and drug discovery that include but are not limited to:
• Designing, performing and analyzing of cell-based compound screens
• Designing, performing and analyzing of chemical and other functional proteomics experiments
• Candidate compound and target selection
• Analysis of in vitro and cellular activity of compounds
• Access to multiple high-quality core facilities equipped with state-of-the-art instrumentation

The Ideal Candidate:

• The candidate must have strong experience in mammalian cell culture, immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, molecular cloning, RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and statistics.
• Experience with mass spectrometry-based proteomics is a plus.
• Experience with “click” chemistry is a plus.
• Experience in developing/adapting functional biochemical assays is a plus.
• Excellent analytical skills and the ability to interpret complex information and data.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.
• Ability to efficiently operate in a multidisciplinary and team-oriented research environment and closely communicate and coordinate efforts with project chemists and staff in proteomics and bioinformatics core facilities.

Responsibilities:

• The duties will include designing, conducting and analyzing cellular screening and chemical proteomics experiments
• Perform cellular validation studies of targets and pathways using genetic and pharmacological tools.
• Design, conduct and analyze biochemical assays for compound binding and functional modulation of target.
• Contribute to the development of research techniques and methods in collaboration with other lab members.
• Documentation of all experiments in electronic notebooks including written, publication- quality experimental procedures.
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, posters and oral presentations
• Provide guidance, as required, to support any graduate or undergraduate students who may be assisting with the research.
• Contribute to Center-wide drug discovery activities.

Credentials and Qualifications:

• Applicant must have a Ph.D. in chemical biology, biochemistry or molecular biology or a related field.
• Specific experience in mechanistic validation of targets and pathways is highly preferred.
• A pending doctoral degree may be considered with the approval of the Principal Investigator.

How to Apply:

Interested applicants should send a single PDF file by email that includes:

• A cover letter outlining candidate’s motivations and suitability
• A summary of research accomplishments (4 pages maximum)
• Current CV with recent publications and
• Contact information for three references to Dr. Rix Uwe.Rix@moffitt.org