Research Scientist, Natural Products & Organic Synthesis, NCNPR

University of Mississippi • University, MS

4d

About The Position

The University of Mississippi seeks a Research Scientist in Chemistry to conduct advanced research in the total synthesis of natural products. The role includes producing reference standards, determining the absolute stereochemistry of unresolved natural products, and conducting structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies to improve the agrochemical or pharmacological properties of natural products and their derivatives. The scientist will communicate research through peer-reviewed publications, contribute to patent applications, and collaborate across disciplines to advance drug discovery and agrochemical development.

The position requires a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, or a closely related discipline, with extensive expertise in isolating, characterizing, and synthesizing natural and synthetic compounds, including postdoctoral experience. The successful candidate will have hands-on experience with multistep total synthesis, air- and moisture-sensitive reagents, advanced chromatography and spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, NMR interpretation, purification methods, and chemistry software and literature-retrieval systems.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacognosy, or a closely related discipline; Chemistry Ph.D. is required.
• Extensive research expertise in isolating, characterizing, and synthesizing natural and synthetic compounds, including postdoctoral experience.
• Demonstrated hands-on proficiency designing and executing multistep total syntheses.
• Experience handling air- and moisture-sensitive reagents.
• Proficiency with advanced chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, including GC-MS and LC-MS, and interpretation of 1D and 2D NMR data.
• Experience with modern purification methods such as Biotage flash chromatography and column chromatography.
• Proficiency with cheminformatics and literature-retrieval systems such as ChemDraw, SciFinder, and Reaxys.

Responsibilities

• Execute complex synthetic routes and total syntheses to access diverse natural products for use as reference standards or in downstream biological evaluations.
• Use advanced spectroscopic and chromatographic techniques, including specialized 1D and 2D NMR expertise, to determine and resolve the absolute stereochemistry of complex natural products.
• Design, synthesize, and evaluate natural-product derivatives to improve their agrochemical or therapeutic profiles.
• Author peer-reviewed scientific publications.
• Contribute to patent applications.
• Collaborate across disciplines to advance drug discovery and agrochemical development.

What This Job Offers

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