Postdoctoral Scholar-Pharmaceutical Sciences

University of Tennessee • Memphis, TN

1d

About The Position

THIS IS A GRANT-FUNDED POSITION FUNDED UNTIL JULY 31, 2029. THE FUNDING MAY BE EXTENDING PENDING FUNDING AVAILABILITY. The Roy Laboratory has an immediate opening in organic chemistry for a highly motivated and Postdoctoral Scholar to join our interdisciplinary team focused on accelerating small-molecule drug discovery. This NIH-funded position focuses on the development of innovative synthetic strategies and small-molecule therapeutics targeting drug-resistant infectious diseases, including target identification, validation, and advancement toward preclinical development. The successful candidate will contribute to interdisciplinary research at the interface of synthetic organic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology, working in a highly collaborative and dynamic environment. This role offers opportunities to engage in cutting-edge drug discovery, publish in high-impact journals, and develop independent research and mentoring skills.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
• Strong background in synthetic organic chemistry, including reaction design and multi-step synthesis.
• Demonstrated research productivity with first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals.
• Hands-on experience with modern synthetic techniques and standard characterization methods (e.g., LC/MS, NMR, chromatography).
• Ability to design, execute, and troubleshoot experiments independently
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present scientific data clearly.
• Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment.
• Commitment to maintaining accurate and detailed experimental records (electronic lab notebook systems).

Nice To Haves

• Experience in photoredox catalysis and/or fluorination strategies.
• Background in medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, or drug discovery.
• Familiarity with structure-based drug design, molecular modeling, or computational chemistry approaches.
• Experience in setting up and optimizing biochemical and/or cell-based assays, including antimicrobial assays (e.g., MIC determination, enzyme inhibition).
• Demonstrated ability to translate synthetic efforts into biologically relevant outcomes (e.g., SAR development, hit-to-lead optimization, or mechanism-of-action studies).

Responsibilities

• Design and develop novel synthetic methodologies, with an emphasis on photoredox catalysis, fluorination strategies, and modern catalytic approaches relevant to medicinal chemistry.
• Apply these methods toward the synthesis of small bioactive molecules targeting infectious diseases.
• Independently design research strategies, plan and execute experiments, analyze and interpret data, and solve complex synthetic challenges.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across chemistry, biology, and computational sciences.
• Maintain accurate and detailed electronic laboratory notebooks documenting all research activities.
• Present findings in group meetings, collaborative discussions, and national/international conferences.
• Lead and contribute to high-impact peer-reviewed publications.
• Contribute to grant applications and reports.
• Participate in laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance and adherence to safety protocols.
• Mentor and supervise graduate students and junior researchers working on related projects.

What This Job Offers

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