Therapeutic Development Branch (TDB) Biology Group

Position Description:

Postdoctoral fellowship positions are available in the Therapeutic Development Branch (TDB) of the Division of Preclinical Innovation (DPI) of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), at its intramural laboratories in Rockville, Maryland. The TDB Biology group is looking for self-motivated postdoctoral fellows to work in a highly creative and collaborative team environment to advance drug discovery and drug development projects.

Responsibilities:

The fellows will develop in vitro biochemical and cell-based assays for high-throughput screening (HTS) of compound libraries to identify lead compounds, which will be used as tools to further understand disease pathophysiology and to be developed as therapeutics. We routinely partner with external collaborators from universities, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and disease research foundations to form multidisciplinary project teams with expertise in assay development, HTS, bioinformatics analysis, medicinal chemistry, disease-relevant biological models, and preclinical drug development.He/she will learn and participate in the drug development process and will apply new technologies such as patient iPS cell-based disease models and 3D organoids for evaluation of drug efficacy and toxicity. The fellows will collaborate with researchers in other universities and NIH institutes, and present experimental findings at scientific conferences. After this training is completed, the fellows will have gained extensive experience and skills in translational research for drug discovery and development across a range of therapeutic modalities.

Work in TDB Biology has a broad focus and spans multiple disease areas including genetic diseases such as lysosomal storage disorders, neuronal diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. The fellows will communicate results to project team members and collaborators, and provide updates to senior management. He/she will keep accurate and complete records of all scientific experiments according to established procedures, and ensure that these records and raw data are properly retained. The fellows will write technical reports, manuscripts and patent applications.

Qualifications:

Applicants should have a Ph.D. degree with the background in biology, molecular biology or pharmacology and have a good publication record. Experience in stem cell research (especially iPSC-derived cells) or drug screening is helpful. Fellows can also be trained in these techniques. The candidate should be an independent thinker and team player able to work in an interactive and high-paced environment. This position provides opportunities for productive publications. Effective oral and written communication skills are necessary for this position.

To Apply:

Applicants should apply online or send a resume including bibliography and the names of three references to Dr. Wei Zheng (wzhengmail.nih.gov).

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs. The NIH is an equal opportunity employer.