Postdoctoral Fellow - Pharmacology

Job Description and Research Projects:

Functioning independently, the Postdoctoral Researcher in the Bonifazi’s lab. will design, organize and conduct highly specialized and advanced medicinal and organic chemistry experiments using established scientific protocols and procedures and, in some cases, designing new protocols; summarize findings and publish results in research journals; assume general responsibility for scientific operations of the laboratory; provide supervision and guidance to junior technicians, students, and researchers.

The primary research goals are directed toward the design, synthesis, and development of small molecules as pharmacological tools for neuroscience applications and potential therapeutics targeting the central nervous system. Specifically, we primarily target G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Our research has implications for treating locomotor disorders, high-impulsivity behaviors, pain, substance use disorders, sleep and feeding disorders, and comorbidities associated with neuropsychiatric conditions. We combine advanced organic chemistry methodologies, with an emphasis on chiral synthesis, and in vitro cell-/tissue-based radioligand binding assays. These techniques allow us to synthesize, characterize and screen new compounds to generate structure-activity relationships (SAR). We believe in a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating nationally and internationally. Thanks to our collaborators, we integrate in silico models (docking and molecular simulation), pharmacokinetic, molecular pharmacology and CryoEM to predict optimized ligand-target interactions and fine-tune the desired pharmacological profile of the new ligands. These efforts have the fundamental goal of advancing new lead candidates in in vivo pre-clinical models.

Essential Job Functions:

• Design and implement research protocols; design safety procedures; adapt new procedures, methods or instrumentation relative to research procedures.
• Oversee organic chemistry procedures, including synthesis, purification, and characterization of medicinal compounds; performs quality control analysis of reagents, intermediates and final products.
• Collect, prepare, and analyze research data; experience in collecting and analyzing NMR, HPLC and mass spectrometry data is required.
• Perform chiral resolution of optically active compounds, and design appropriate stereospecific or stereoselective synthesis.
• Interpret data from biological assays to generate structure-activity relationships and design new generations of small molecules, accordingly.
• Interpret data from computational and structural biology studies to improve the compounds design.
• Excellent communication with collaborators.
• Search pertinent scientific database (i.e. SciFinder, Reaxys), and review scientific literature, as needed.
• Keep a detailed notebook summarizing experiments and recording research data; maintain computer database of research data; tabulate and display data for presentation in research conferences, manuscript preparation and grant application; use graphics and statistical software (i.e. ChemDraw and GraphPad Prism) to analyze and present data.
• Supervise other personnel in the laboratory to coordinate research efforts for increased efficiency; participate in training of fellows, students and volunteer workers as needed.
• Assist with ordering and procurement of supplies and equipment and with general maintenance of laboratory.

MINIMUM QUALFICIATIONS: 

Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or closely related fields, with a focus on the design, synthesis, and development of new potential small molecule therapeutics.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

The postdoctoral fellow will conduct, report and present research in his/her field of study under the supervision of a faculty mentor. This is a training position, and is not expected to be a permanent position.

SALARY:
Commensurate with experience