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Principal Scientist - Structural Biology

Employer
Southern Research
Location
Birmingham, AL
Start date
Feb 24, 2023

View more

Discipline
Science/R&D, Biology, Biotechnology
Required Education
Doctorate/PHD/MD
Position Type
Full time

Job Details

PRINCIPAL SCIENTIST - STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY

General Summary

Southern Research is seeking a Ph.D. level scientist with a passion for drug discovery, protein biochemistry, and structural determination of therapeutically relevant targets. This individual will accelerate our drug discovery pipeline through protein expression, purification, characterization, X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM. Experience in structural characterization of membrane proteins would be preferred. Southern Research has resources for enabling both crystallographic and cryo-EM (Tecnai F20 with Gatan K2 direct electron detector) structure determination through the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build a structural biology team to work with a highly collaborative group of chemists, computational scientists and biologists.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

  • Plans, designs, initiates and directs internal research programs for in-house or external studies using high-throughput screening, X-ray crystallography, Cryo-EM, and other biophysical methods.
  • Acts as organization's subject matter expert in the area of structural biology and x-ray crystallography.
  • Coordinates these activities with members from Biology, Chemistry, and various project teams.
  • Collaborates with computational chemists and the chemistry and biology teams utilizing solved structures for rational design and SAR study of lead molecules.
  • Extensive participation and leadership of project teams that focus on the generation of chemical matter for a target and the development and selection of clinical candidates.
  • Cultivates collaborations within SR and throughout the UAB research community.
  • Develops an externally supported research program to help support the growth of the x-ray crystallography and protein purification laboratory.
  • Observes appropriate safety and study requirements by reading, understanding and following appropriate Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

Requirements/Minimum Qualifications

  • PhD in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Biophysics, or related discipline plus at least 15 years of relevant experience.
  • Experience using state-of-the-art protein expression and characterization methods (e.g. NMR, ITC, thermal shift)
  • Experience with structure determination of small molecule: protein; preferably membrane protein and of macro molecular complexes
  • Ability to effectively communicate and collaborate across multiple scientific disciplines.
  • Experience with complex problems in which analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of multiple factors
  • Exercise judgment within broadly defined practices and policies in selecting methods, techniques, and evaluation criteria for obtaining results
  • Ability to determine approaches and procedures to new assignments and must be capable of providing guidance to peers.

Work Environment & Conditions

This position is a laboratory environment and requires the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) including:

  • Safety glasses
  • Laboratory coats
  • Nitrile and latex gloves (varies based on tasks)

Physical Demands

  • Ability to perform work utilizing a computer for extended periods of time.
  • Ability to sit for extended periods of time without being able to leave the work area.


Company

MOVING SCIENCE. Our experts turn what couldn't be done into what we can't live without. By translating research into innovation, we act as catalysts that save lives and cultivate Birmingham's biotech scene. We are conduits between Science and Society. With precision, we transform ideas into discoveries. We see possibilities before they exist and activate scientific progress that is purposeful. We move science, because the promise of a brighter future moves us. We work with more than 150 industry and academic partners to drive scientific discoveries. From drug discovery to development, to carbon capture and environmental health sciences, every layer of our scientific and professional teams serve a fundamental role in moving science. We're making Birmingham the biotech hub of the southeast. Coming in 2024, our new biotech center will feature 60,000 sq. ft. of commercial wet labs, A/BSL-3 space and data science facilities. Our team will grow 125 scientific jobs and help shape the future of biotech in Alabama. We're investing in renovations of 40,000 sq. ft. of facilities including vivarium space and launching a new clinical diagnostics lab.

Company info
Website
Phone
(205) 581-2000
Location
2000 9th Avenue South
Birmingham
Alabama
35205
US

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