Job Summary
The Skouta group (http://people.chem.umass.edu/skouta/) is seeking a highly motivated synthetic medicinal chemistry post-doc to join the new laboratory. The Skouta Group research covers medicinal chemistry, protein chemistry, computer modeling, biological assays and in vitro studies. The major therapeutic focuses are cancer, neurodegeneration and infection diseases. The successful candidate will be involved in the design and synthesis of small molecule drug candidates with well-defined mode of action for the development of better therapeutic treatments.

The candidate needs be to proficient in designing synthetic routes and solving challenging problems in multi-step synthesis. The candidate also needs to have medicinal chemistry knowledge including but not limited to ligand-receptor interactions and structure-based drug design, SAR exploration, parallel and library synthesis, computer modeling, biological tests including cell line assay and in vivo studies, etc. The appointee is expected to establish some independence in research design and execution, and to publish his/her work as appropriate in collaboration with the principal investigator.

Essential Functions
Develop an elegant synthetic pathway of the desired scaffold to create a set of analogs efficiently.

Creation of analogues with high purity for biology testing.

Structure activity relationship study an invitro testing of biologically active compounds with better drug-like properties.

ADME/PK/toxicity testing

Development of in vitro assays such as knock out genes of interest (CRISPR/Cas9) to evaluate the biological properties of the compounds.

Other Functions
Work collaboratively and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equality and inclusiveness. In the performance of work, take initiative, be creative, and operate with self-direction. Work in partnership with colleagues within the CNS community and across the campus to support the Dean’s strategic priorities.

Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission and goals of the College of Natural Sciences.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)
Must have a Ph.D. in chemistry, medicinal chemistry or a related field.

Previous work with drug design and creation of novel molecules.

Interest in evaluating small molecules against a panel of cell lines.

Experience with mentoring students and collaborative work with other groups.

Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Ability to work independently to organize multiple tasks and set priorities for action, take initiative, be creative, and operate with self-direction in a fast-paced office environment.

Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to interact effectively and work productively in establishing and maintaining harmonious working relationships with a diverse population of faculty, staff and students.

Ability to organize and prioritize goals; ability to collaborate well to formulate plans and objectives in accordance with overall college goals; ability to identify and implement process improvements.

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and to set and meet deadlines while maintaining high standards of accuracy and quality.

Special Instructions to Applicants
To apply, please submit a cover letter, resume, a summary of research accomplishments and contact information for three professional references. Search may remain open until a suitable candidate pool has been identified.

Please apply at the following link:
http://careers.umass.edu/amherst/en-us/job/496615/postdoctoral-research-...

As part of a commitment to their own multicultural community, CNS seeks an individual with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and one who will understand and embrace university initiatives and aspirations. http://www.cns.umass.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, or genetic information in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of the UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.