Assistant Professors: Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery -VCU MCC
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Full-time
Education
Posted on April 30, 2024
Mission or Goal of Unit:
The Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology is home to a community of researchers, students and faculty who strive to improve the treatment of medical disorders through a better understanding of the pharmacology of agents and by developing safer and more effective drugs.
Highly motivated non-tenure-track Research Assistant Professors are sought to join the laboratory of Dr. Said Sebti at the NCI designated Massey Cancer Center (MCC) and the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology. The research focus of the laboratory is to understand at the basic science level how normal cells become malignant and to translate such fundamental knowledge to the clinic. Specifically, the candidates will be involved in exciting and highly integrated inter-disciplinary research projects concerning understanding aberrant oncogenic KRAS signal transduction pathways in cancer and designing novel anti-cancer drugs based on this knowledge.
The following are examples of projects that the candidates will be engaged in:
1. Understanding the mechanism of mutant KRAS addiction and developing drugs to thwart mutant KRAS-driven cancers
2. Identifying small molecules that bind KRAS and investigating the mechanism by which they block oncogenesis.
3. Identifying kinases that are synthetically lethal with mutant KRAS.
4. Identifying cell surface proteins specifically expressed on human cancers that are addicted to mutant KRAS, and developing therapeutic strategies based on these discoveries.
5. Developing dual FTase and GGTase -1 inhibitors as novel anti-cancer drugs targeting human tumors that harbor mutant KRAS.
Chief Purpose of this position:
As a member of Dr. Sebti's laboratory, the candidate is expected to work collaboratively as a lab team member in the research areas described above. Candidates will also be expected to submit grant applications for peer-reviewed extramural funding.
As a member of the cancer center, the candidate will undertake cancer research activities that are aligned with the MCC vision and mission: to improve the lives of all Virginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals. The vision of Massey is to be a premier community-focused cancer center leading the nation in cancer health equity and ensuring optimal health outcomes for all.
As a faculty member in the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the School of Medicine, the candidate will also support the department with teaching responsibilities including team-teaching medical and graduate levels courses. The candidate will be responsible for training and being a mentor to graduate students seeking M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The candidate will serve as members of departmental as well as university wide service committees.
Position Responsibilities:
Research:Undertake cancer research activities that are aligned with MCC vision and mission. Submit and obtain peer-reviewed grants preferably R-type grants from NCI. Publish manuscripts in high impact journals. Work closely with Dr. Sebti to harness the considerable intellectual talent and scientific resources of VCU and focus them on solving the nation's cancer problem.
Teaching and Mentoring: Support the department of pharmacology and toxicology with teaching responsibilities including team-teaching medical and graduate levels courses. Train and mentor graduate students seeking M.S. and Ph.D. degrees.
Service: Serve as member of departmental as well as university wide service committees.
Required Qualifications:
- Ph.D and a minimum of 8 years extensive experience in cancer molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer cell biology, drug discovery and/or pharmacology.
- Understanding of Ras signal transduction pathways
- Experience with in vitro assays and in vivo animal models as they relate to drug discovery
- Ability to maintain detailed documentation through electronic and notebook means.
- Demonstrated creativity, high motivation, solid communication skills and experience in writing progress reports and manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications.
- Extensive publication record.
- Working in multi-disciplinary fields.
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.
- Experience working in a matrix environment within academic medicine.
- Proven success in collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
- Proven trainee and faculty mentorship skills.
- Experience working closely with chemists, structural biologists and clinical researchers.
Virginia Commonwealth University is a premier urban, public research university with a diverse student body and both research-intensive and community-engaged designations from the Carnegie Foundation. Located in historic Richmond, Virginia, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students on two campuses.
The mission of the School of Medicine is to provide preeminent education to physicians and scientists in order to improve the quality of health care for humanity. Through innovative, scholarly activity and a diverse educational context, the School seeks to create and apply new knowledge, and to provide and continuously improve systems of medical and science education. Furthermore, it is our mission to develop more effective health care practices to address the needs of the diverse populations we serve, and to provide distinguished leadership in the advancement of medicine and science.
The mission of the Massey Cancer Center is to improve the lives of all Virginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcare professionals. The vision of Massey is to be a premier community-focused cancer center leading the nation in cancer health equity and ensuring optimal health outcomes for all.
Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months: 12
Department: School of Medicine - Pharmacology and Toxicology
Salary: Commensurate
ORP Eligible: Yes
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Julian Owens
Contact Email: Julian.Owens@vcuhealth.org
