Postdoctoral Fellowship in Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Posting Expiry

 

A 1-year postdoctoral position (with possibility for renewal) is available in the Page Laboratory, University of British Columbia, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The use of target engagement techniques in the pharmaceutical industry and academic drug discovery labs is rapidly growing.  These techniques, including the cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), offer an unprecedented ability to analyze direct interactions between small molecule inhibitors and proteins of interest. When an inhibitor binds to its biological target, the resulting inhibitor-protein complex is generally more stable than the unbound protein alone.  As a result, this complex is more resistant to thermal denaturing.  By subjecting biological samples to heightened temperatures, one can probe how the thermal stability of their protein of interest is modified in the presence of small molecule inhibitors. A shift in the thermal stability indicates that the inhibitor has reached its cellular target.  

The Page lab at UBC is a chemical biology and medicinal chemistry research group that is focused on developing new anti-cancer drugs.  To accomplish this task, we develop and implement state-of-the-art techniques (including CETSA and similar technologies) to directly measure interactions between inhibitors and their cellular targets. We believe that by optimizing our inhibitors for how well they physically interact with their target, we can streamline the drug development process, which allows for the rapid development of lead compounds. After we confirm strong interactions between inhibitors and a protein of interest, we then explore the inhibitory activity of these molecules in disease-relevant model systems.

This interdisciplinary research operates at the interface of chemistry, biology and medicine and aims to make impactful strides towards the development of next generation chemical biology tools and to produce clinically relevant inhibitory small molecules.  

The incumbent should have a PhD in organic or medicinal chemistry (recent graduate or postdoc with less than 5 years of postdoctoral experience) with a keen interest in chemical biology, biochemistry and cancer biology. The incumbent should be self-motivated with and comfortable operating within the interdisciplinary atmosphere of drug discovery and development.  Excellent written and oral communication skills in English, as well as proficiency in standard laboratory software are highly valued (MS office, GraphPad, electronic lab notebook, etc.).

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design and synthesize small drug-like molecules
  • Lead drug discovery projects and structure-activity relationship studies
  • Coordinate with biological collaborators and team members
  • Evaluate inhibitors in biochemical assays

Additional Desired Skills:

  • Experience in academic drug discovery
  • Biochemical and biological assay proficiency
  • Familiarity with in silico docking techniques

The Page Lab also includes a secondary site at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden which is focused on cancer biology and the biological aspects of projects in the Page lab. There will be many opportunities to synergize with team members at the Karolinska Institute and to interact with a diverse network of collaborators in Europe and across North America.

Pay will be commensurate with level of experience and subjected to UBC regulations for stipends for postdoctoral fellows.  Term is for one year with possibility to extend.  For further information please email brent.page@ubc.ca, please include the subject line: “Med. Chem. Postdoc Application”. Applicants are requested to submit a cover letter, a recent CV and contact information for three references. Further information about the Page Lab can be found at www.brentpagelab.com.  Review of applications will start on Sept 7th, 2017 and will continue until the position has been filled. Start date of October 1st or as soon as possible.

Equity and diversity are essential to academic excellence. An open and diverse community fosters the inclusion of voices that have been underrepresented or discouraged. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been marginalized on any grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.