ResearcherScientist V

The High Throughput Biology Core at the University of Arizona is seeking a highly motivated creative and collaborative Researcher/Scientist V to join a rapidly growing translational drug discovery partnership with the Arizona Center for Drug Discovery the University of Arizona Cancer Center and other stakeholders across the university the successful candidate will contribute to innovative drug discovery programs in various areas including neuroscience metabolic disease and spanning cutting-edge bioassay design and chemical biology. Passionate intellectually curious scientists with a strong desire to continuously learn and expand into new biological systems technologies and therapeutic areas are encouraged to apply. This position offers the opportunity to work across a varying portfolio of targets assay modalities and therapeutic areas in a highly interdisciplinary environment bridging academic innovation with industry-standard drug discovery. The candidate will play a central role in assay development cellular engineering high-throughput screening hit validation and translational biology workflows supporting projects across multiple colleges centers and external collaborations.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health dental and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation sick leave and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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Cell Biology & Cellular Engineering

• Perform complex experimental research using a diverse portfolio of targets assay modalities and therapeutic areas to help further the advancement and discovery of new drugs.
• Design test and implement new procedures to optimize cell-based assays. Focus primarily on cellular constructs such as luc nanoluc BRET nanoBRET HiBiT HaloTag.

Assay Development & High-Throughput Screening

• Conduct complex miniaturization and scaling of multiple assay formats. Analyze and validate multi-well assays for HTS.

Research Administration and Management

• Act as the lead and primary contact working closely with ACDD and UACC leadership (i) to establish timelines and milestones (ii) to provide out-facing announcements to faculty including funding opportunities and (iii) to prepare reports and project updates in a timely fashion (iv) establish metrics of success (goals and objectives).
• Partner with ORP and UACC centers and cores; for example GEMMS Core collaboration involving clients to establish cell-based assays.
• Consult with research teams and PIs at project initiation.
• Take primary responsibility for writing and supporting collaborative grant applications and components
  
  

External and Internal Communication

• Present at seminars and workshops about the technical and strategic aspects of the field at the University cognate institutions in southern Arizona and be a representative at national meetings and conferences.
• Speak and explain on the acceptance of new concepts practices and approaches in the field of drug discovery and development particularly the importance of and approaches towards commercialization of university intellectual property.
• Conduct briefings to senior leaders and act as a subject matter expert (SME) on strategic research matters.
• Represent the organization externally as a thought leader in the professional discipline of academic drug discovery and development performed to industry standards.

Automation & Screening Operations

• Co-direct the automation of assays and cherry picking in collaboration with the Functional Genomics Core on automation and library selection/curation.
• Utilize 96 and 384-well plate formats with automated liquid systems and compound dispensing technologies (Pintooling and Echo Acoustic dispensing).
• Use high-content imaging platforms and advanced assay analysis software (CDD Vault Prism JMP or Genedata) to analyze and interpret complex data sets to help validate and establish HCS approaches to put in reports.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge with multiple assay technologies including: TR-FRET HTRF AlphaLisa enzyme activity assays luminescence-based assays proximity-based assay platforms.
• Knowledge of high-content imaging platforms and associated image analysis software.
• Knowledge of cellular reporters antibody staining multiplexed imaging assays phenotypic screening and/or cell-painting approaches preferred.
• Knowledge of screening and assay analysis software such as CDD Vault Prism JMP Genedata or related platforms desirable.
• Ability to manage multiple parallel projects in a dynamic and fast-paced discovery environment.
• Collaborative and team-oriented with strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to independently drive projects forward while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Extensive hands-on skills in culturing and maintaining multiple mammalian cell lines across diverse tissue types.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences Biology Pharmacology or related field or equivalent terminal degree in a related discipline required.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

• Experience working in drug discovery translational research or screening core environments.
• Experience with small molecule screening libraries hit-to-lead workflows or medicinal chemistry support activities.
• Experience with target validation strategies and translational biomarker development.
• Experience integrating biological pharmacological and imaging datasets to support project progression.