Postdoctoral Fellow

Florida Atlantic University • Boca Raton, FL

16h • $62,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Roche Research Group at Florida Atlantic University is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join an interdisciplinary research program focused on developing next-generation peptide therapeutics targeting protein–protein interactions (PPIs) in inflammatory disease. This Leo Foundation–supported project leverages the ADAPT platform , a novel technology that converts antibody CDR-H3 loops into β-hairpin peptide mimetics with antibody-like specificity and improved pharmacokinetic properties. The primary biological focus is the inhibition of IL-17 and IL-23 signaling pathways relevant to psoriasis (I&I).
The successful candidate will work in a well-equipped laboratory environment and interact closely with collaborators at the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami, the University of Colorado, and the UF-Scripps Institute for biological and pharmacokinetic studies.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Chemical Biology, or a closely related field
• Strong background in synthetic organic or peptide chemistry
• Experience with SPPS and peptide purification (HPLC, LC-MS)
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative research team

Nice To Haves

• Experience with peptide secondary structure analysis (CD, NMR)
• Familiarity with covalent inhibitors or protein–protein interaction modulators
• Interest in translational research and drug discovery

Responsibilities

• Design, synthesize, and characterize CDR-H3–mimetic β-hairpin peptides using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS)
• Develop and screen non-covalent and covalent peptide libraries
• Perform peptide folding and stability analyses (CD spectroscopy, VT-CD)
• Conduct structural studies by NMR spectroscopy
• Collaborate on biochemical, cellular, and in vivo validation studies (ELISA, keratinocyte assays, murine psoriasis models)
• Analyze and integrate chemical, biophysical, and biological data for publication
• Contribute to manuscripts, grant reports, and collaborative discussions

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree