Summary

The Erwin Lab at Baylor College of Medicine seeks a Staff Scientist to design and synthesize novel ligands for treating repeat expansion diseases. This position will lead the synthesis of pyrrole-imidazole polyamides and conjugates. The ideal candidate will have strong expertise in multi-step organic synthesis and a passion for translating chemical innovations into therapeutic leads.

Job Duties

• Design and synthesize small molecule ligands that can be conjugated with pyrrole-imidazole polyamides for therapeutic applications.
• Execute multi-step syntheses of pyrrole-imidazole polyamides via manual solid-phase synthesis using Fmoc- and Boc-protected amino acids.
• Conjugate polyamides to small molecules using standard coupling chemistry with various linker designs.
• Purify compounds by reverse-phase HPLC and characterize by NMR and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
• Maintain detailed laboratory notebooks and present findings at lab meetings.
• Optimize linker chemistries and conjugation strategies to enhance compound stability and cellular uptake.
• Synthesize fluorescently-labeled analogs for uptake studies.
• Troubleshoot and optimize synthetic routes for challenging targets.
•  Maintain chemical inventory and ensure laboratory safety compliance.
• May supervise graduate students and undergraduate researchers on synthesis projects at the direction of the PI.
• Perform other job related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral Degree. Experience may not be substituted in lieu of degree.
• Three years of post doctoral research experience.

Department Specific Criteria

• Familiarity with HPLC purification, NMR, and mass spectrometry characterization required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or related field with demonstrated expertise in multi-step organic synthesis.
• Experience with solid-phase peptide synthesis, heterocyclic chemistry, and/or natural product synthesis preferred.
• Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work independently.