Requisition Id 10427 

Overview: 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the largest US Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, conducting basic and applied research to deliver transformative solutions to compelling problems in energy and security.

We are seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate with a strong background in the areas of medicinal chemistry and chemical synthesis for biochemical applications to advance targeted delivery of radionuclides to cancer cells for imaging and therapeutic applications. This position will be in the Isotope Applications Research Group in the Radioisotope Science and Technology Division (RSTD), Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate (ISED) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

The Isotope Applications Research group is involved in advancing fundamental and applied research to advance our understanding and use of radionuclides for medical, industrial, research and national security applications. RSTD is a global leader in actinide science, delivering innovations in isotope production technology, enabling ORNL to produce and rapidly deliver radioisotopes for science, medicine, industry, and security.

Established in 2020, the Isotope Science and Engineering Directorate is strengthening Oak Ridge National Laboratory's leadership in isotope production and enrichment technology innovation. ISED is guiding the Lab's pursuit of the fundamental science and technology that broadens the application of isotopes for energy, environmental, medical, and national security purposes. These efforts are made possible through the High Flux Isotope Reactor, the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center, ORNL's other nuclear facilities, and an assemblage of world-leading scientists and engineers. Please visit https://www.ornl.gov/directorate/isotopes for more information about ISED.

Major Duties/Responsibilities: 

The position requires collaboration within a multi-disciplinary research environment consisting of the chemistry, biochemistry, and biology of surrounding the development of therapeutics including covalent inhibitors and targeted radiotherapeutics. The skill set of a qualified applicant will be utilized to conduct basic and applied research in support of a funded research project and in support of the Laboratory’s missions. The successful candidate will conduct research focused on the design and synthesis of targeted covalent inhibitors for attachment of radionuclides and surrogate nuclides. Opportunities to learn and apply radiochemical techniques will be supported. Additional methods for developing bioconjugates and other biomedical constructs may also be pursued. It is expected that the candidate will publish their research accomplishments in high impact journals and present them at national meetings.

• Perform chemical synthesis of known and novel compounds.
• Collect spectral data sets and build multivariate regression models.
• Implement experimental approaches, perform complex chemical separations, execute the necessary analysis, interpret experimental results.
• Participate in project planning and execution.
• Publish innovations, findings and reports in relevant conferences, journals, and symposia.
• Participate in project reviews, including presenting to internal and external technical review committees.
• Ensure compliance with Environment, Safety and Health (ES&H) and QA requirements.
• As a member of the ORNL scientific community, you will be expected to commit to ORNL's Research Code of Conduct. Our full code of conduct, and a statement by the Lab Director's office can be found here: https://www.ornl.gov/content/research-integrity

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Medicinal Chemistry and Synthetic Chemistry or related field relevant to the job duties of this position completed within the last 5 years.
• Demonstrated written and oral communication skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills.
• This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Background in medicinal chemistry and the design and execution of chemical syntheses.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently to drive the project forward and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• Proficiency in chemical synthesis, isolation/purification (e.g., column chromatography, crystallization, etc.), and characterization (e.g., NMR, UV-vis, and FT-IR spectroscopies, mass spectrometry, HPLC, etc.)
• Skills in radiochemistry, biochemistry, and bioconjugation are of value but not required.
• Experience in the design and implementation of covalent enzyme inhibitors is encouraged.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.

• Dissemination of research through peer-reviewed papers and technical reports, as well as seminar and conference presentations.
• Active participation in professional organizations and career development action. Participate in project planning and execution,
• Publish scientific results in high-impact peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner.
• Ensure compliance with environment, safety, health, and quality program requirements.
• Maintain strong dedication to the implementation and perpetuation of values and ethics.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to postdocrecruitment@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov
• View Profile
• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

Applicants cannot have received their Ph.D. more than five years prior to the date of application and must complete all degree requirements before starting their appointment. The appointment length will be for up to 24 months with the potential for extension. Initial appointments and extensions are subject to performance and the availability of funding.

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.

For more information about our benefits, working here, and living here, visit the “About” tab at jobs.ornl.gov.

Special Requirements:

This position requires access to technology that is subject to export control requirements. Successful candidates must be qualified for such access without an export control license.

Visa Sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.