Senior Staff Scientist, Center for Drug Design, College of Pharmacy

Summary of Position:

The Center for Drug Design (CDD) in College of Pharmacy is seeking a highly qualified and motivated Research Professional 6 senior scientist with a background in pharmacology or clinical/pre-clinical medicine to join their dynamic research team. The ideal candidate should possess expertise in discovery pharmacology and toxicology with at least 6 years of research experience post-PhD, MD or equivalent degree. This position requires independent planning and execution of, and writing reports and manuscripts on, scientific experiments to evaluate the toxicity, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK-PD) profiles of experimental drugs, supporting the research initiatives of the CDD faculty and expanding the current ISO services. The successful candidate will work under minimal supervision with the discretion to make daily operational decisions. Experience in industry is strongly preferred.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
75% Pharmacology and Toxicology Research
* Design early toxicological studies in animals or in vitro models, including single/repeat dose toxicity, dose range finding (DRF), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), acute/sub-acute/chronic/sub-chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies, and integrate scientific data interpretation for preclinical safety evaluation.
* Design, establish, and validate preclinical disease models, including but not limited to tumor xenografts and surgical models, and perform related or standalone biochemical/biochemistry/molecular biology assays to evaluate the efficacy and PK-PD profiles of experimental drugs.
* Develop and test new and innovative methodologies and models for pharmacology/toxicology research.
* Develop, conduct and manage individual research projects submitted by CDD PIs.
* Write IACUC protocols and implement and maintain compliance with animal welfare policies and other established research regulatory guidelines and safety standards.

20% Project Reports
* Analyze and interpret experimental data, draw conclusions, and prepare detailed scientific reports and presentations.
* Construct tables, graphs, and figures in support of CDD faculty manuscripts and grants.
* Write and publish manuscripts for individual research projects.
* Lead or contribute significantly to grant applications.

5% Other Lab Duties
* Perform assigned lab duties related to lab maintenance and operation.
* Advise and train junior CDD researchers on animal handling or other lab techniques.

Supervision: This Research Professional 6 will report to Dr. Zhengqiang (ZQ) Wang.
Advise and train junior CDD researchers on animal handling or other lab techniques.

Working Conditions: The majority of the work in this position is performed in a multidisciplinary wet lab.

Work arrangements: This role is offered as an on-campus position where you are required to be onsite at our Twin Cities campus on a regular basis.

Required Qualifications:
* PhD, MD, or equivalent degree in Pharmacology, Clinical Medicine, Toxicology, or a related field, plus 6 years of post-degree research experience.
* Demonstrated experience in preclinical toxicology and PK/PD research.
* Ability to write manuscripts and maintain a strong publication record as the main author.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills and ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.

Preferred Qualifications:
* Prior experience in industry settings.
* Proficient in all aspects of laboratory animal handling techniques, including both common and less common drug administration methods (oral, IV, intravesical, intrathecal, etc.), as well as tissue and body fluid collection from various sources (retina, hippocampus, bile, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.).
* Hands-on expertise in establishing various surgical and non-surgical disease models (e.g., tumor xenografts, mini-pump implantation, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion) and conducting animal behavior testing and pain assessment (e.g., Tail Flick, Hot Plate).
* Proficient in cell culture and diverse molecular and cellular assays, including but not limited to ELISA, flow cytometry, PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry.
* Experienced in advanced imaging and analytical techniques, such as spectroscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy, and hyperspectral microscopy.
* Proficient in software tools such as Phoenix WinNonlin, GraphPad Prism, FlowJo, ImageJ, ChemDraw, Compusyn, and TIBCO Spotfire for data analysis, visualization, and modeling.

The University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy is nationally recognized for excellence in preparing pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists, occupational therapists, and medical laboratory scientists to tackle society's toughest problems in Minnesota and across the globe. The College of Pharmacy offers degrees in the programs of pharmacy (PharmD, MS, PhD), occupational therapy (OTD), and medical laboratory sciences (BS, Certificate, MMLS, MS-BLS).

The pharmacy program is offered on the Twin Cities and Duluth campuses. The occupational therapy program is offered on the Twin Cities and Rochester campuses. The medical laboratory sciences program is offered on the Twin Cities campus. Interactive technology is used to keep all campuses connected.

Center for Drug Design

The Center for Drug Design (CDD) was created to combine research and scholarship leading to the development of novel drugs for therapeutic applications, such as HIV, cancer, neurological diseases, dermatological agents, infectious diseases, novel processes, and medical devices.

As part of the Health Sciences Shared Centers, the CDD combines the best of academic tradition along with an expectation of innovation and independence both inspiring and driving our Center members to excel, and providing significant value for our academic and research community. By existing outside an organized school, college, or department, the CDD offers a new and refocused approach combining the best of academic and industry standards. Using very few staff, the CDD runs with great efficiency and without redundancy, which has been a hallmark for the Center from its inception.

https://drugdesign.umn.edu/

Pay Range: $85,000-$90,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America's Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).