NMR Spectroscopy - Sr. Scientist

The Cancer Research Technology Program (CRTP) develops and implements emerging technology, cancer biology expertise and research capabilities to accomplish NCI research objectives. The CRTP is an outward-facing, multi-disciplinary hub purposed to enable the external cancer research community. A major focus of the CRTP is the NCI RAS Initiative with the goal to discover new therapeutic interventions against RAS-driven cancers. In addition, the CRTP hosts the Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL) which performs and standardizes preclinical efficacy and toxicity testing of nanoparticles intended for cancer therapeutics and diagnostics, and the Antibody Characterization Lab (ACL) which characterizes monoclonal antibodies or other renewable affinity binding reagents for use in cancer related research. CRTP scientists also work collaboratively with intramural NCI investigators to provide research technologies and expertise.

The RAS Initiative is seeking an experienced, hands-on NMR Spectroscopist to provide support for multiple projects in a fast-paced environment of a highly collaborative team of biophysicists, chemists, biochemists, structural, cell, and molecular biologists. Our focus is to understand the biology of RAS protein/ RAS at the plasma membrane, and to develop therapies for RAS-driven cancers.

KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Designing, developing, and implementing NMR-based experiments to support drug discovery projects, and characterizing RAS:effector interactions, and RAS:small-molecule interactions in solution, and at the plasma membrane/membrane mimetics.
• Developing advanced NMR methods applied to structure-function studies of bio macromolecules, with the goal of understanding their interactions and responses to various ligands, both small molecule compounds and protein binding partners.
• Work in a fast-paced environment, providing NMR support to the FNL/NCI RAS Initiative
• Work closely with a highly collaborative multidisciplinary team of chemists, biochemists, structural and cell biologists, to discover, develop, and optimize pharmaceutical agents for use as RAS inhibitors
• Design and conduct NMR experiments, collect and analyze data
• Maintain in-house NMR spectrometer
• Solve NMR structures of RAS protein in complexes with relevant small molecule inhibitors
• Provide biophysics support for drug/protein interaction analysis
• Work independently, however within highly collaborative team environment

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a doctorate degree from an accredited college or university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education). Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency
• In addition to the educational requirements, a minimum of five (5) years of post-doctoral experience in protein NMR is required
• Working knowledge of multidimensional heteronuclear NMR experiments for elucidation of protein structure
• Strong background in NMR spectroscopy
• Expertise in protein NMR, including analysis of protein-drug interactions, protein complexes, and proteins on membrane/membrane mimetics
• Must be highly collaborative, with excellent communication skills, self-motivated, and team-oriented
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a security clearance

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience with RAS family proteins NMR
• Experience with NMR analysis of RAS family proteins interacting with effectors/binding partners
• Experience with SPR, ITC, and other biophysical techniques to measure protein-drug interaction is a plus

Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) | Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran (M/F/D/V) | Drug Free Workplace (DFW)