R&D Associate, Computational Chemistry - UT-ORII

Requisition Id 13796 

 

Overview:  

Join Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in collaboration with the University of Tennessee (UT) Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (ORII) Convergent Research Initiative as we pioneer the future of radiopharmaceutical therapies. We are seeking a passionate early career computational chemist to contribute to groundbreaking research at the intersection of radiochemistry, chemistry, nuclear medicine, and biomedical engineering. As an ORNL staff member, the successful applicant will be part of a team of ORNL researchers and university research faculty in a UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative focused on development and advancement of radiopharmaceutical therapies. In addition to being an ORNL staff member, since this role will be aligned with a UT-ORII research initiative, you will also be considered a UT-ORII Fellow.

 

Research: The research will focus on the advancement of computational chemistry methods in support of radioisotope production, radiopharmaceutical development up to therapeutic applications, including:

• R&D in computational chemistry and support to experiments through active collaborations with ORNL and UT scientists in radioisotope production of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceutical development, leveraging capabilities at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and Leadership Computing to advance the field.

• Modeling chemistry of heavy elements, separations, ligand design, complexation.

• Drug molecule interactions with membranes, protein targets, media. 

 

Key Responsibilities:

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with researchers from diverse disciplines within ORNL, UT, and external partners to leverage expertise in radioisotope production, chemistry, nuclear medicine, radiobiology, medical physics, and clinical oncology for the advancement of radiopharmaceutical therapy development.

• Innovative Research: Conduct innovative research within the field of radionuclide production (e.g., targetry, radionuclide production, target processing) and/or radiopharmaceutical development (e.g., radiopharmaceutical design and synthesis, radiobiology and microdosimetry) to improve therapeutic efficacy and minimize off-target effects.

• Translation and Clinical Integration: Work closely with university and clinical partners to aid in the translation of promising radiopharmaceutical therapies from preclinical studies to clinical trials, ensuring regulatory compliance, safety, and efficacy assessments.

• Grant Writing and Fundraising: Seek external funding opportunities and assist in securing research grants, contracts, and philanthropic support to sustain and expand research activities in radiopharmaceutical therapy development.

• Publication and Dissemination: Publish research findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, present at scientific conferences, and engage in outreach activities to disseminate research outcomes and enhance the visibility of ORNL, UT, and ORII in the field of radiopharmaceutical therapy.

• Mentorship and Training: Assist in mentoring graduate students and interns, offering guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to cultivate a diverse and skilled research team.

 

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree in computational chemistry/biochemistry/biophysics, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, or a related field. 

• Expertise in one or more of the following fields: relativistic quantum chemistry, molecular simulations using accurate/correlational methodologies, QM/MM, computer assisted drug discovery and analysis, radiochemistry.

• Strong record of research accomplishments evidenced by publications and impactful contributions to the field.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and