UNIV - Staff Scientist I - Department of Biochemistry

Medical University of South Carolina • Charleston, SC

23h

About The Position

The laboratory of Dr. Dan Sprague has an opening for a collegial, motivated, and productive organic chemist to complement our growing laboratory and fill the role of Staff Scientist I starting after March 1, 2026. MUSC has an initiative to develop chemical biology and drug discovery efforts institution-wide, and the person hired into this position is meant to play a leading role in establishing these efforts and supporting faculty throughout MUSC. The Staff Scientist will be responsible for leading projects related to the synthesis of chemical tools, probes, and small molecule preclinical candidates to support the needs of faculty across MUSC. The Staff Scientist will manage all aspects of daily chemistry laboratory function and regulatory compliance in conjunction with the PI, and alongside our lab manager. The Staff Scientist will design synthetic routes, carry-out the synthesis of these molecules, and fully characterize new molecules in a timely fashion. The Staff Scientist will be responsible, in conjunction with the PI, for advising and fostering collaborations with MUSC faculty regarding the development of small molecules. The candidate will keep meticulously organized notes and data. The candidate will also (in conjunction with the PI) assist in training new lab members in safety and chemistry techniques as the need arises. There will be ample opportunity for co-authorship on manuscripts and patents, and Dr. Sprague is committed to helping develop the capabilities of the Staff Scientist in molecular pharmacology and cell biology as needs arise or if interested.

Requirements

• The candidate is required to have a minimum of a Ph.D. in Chemistry or related subjects with extensive experience and demonstrated productivity in multi-step syntheses.

Nice To Haves

• The preferred candidate will have high-quality publications detailing their efforts in synthesis and demonstrated leadership skills.
• Postdoctoral experience is a plus but not required, and experience in high-throughput screening, assay development, and/or mammalian cell culture is a benefit, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Executes synthetic routes to provide small molecules to support efforts within the Sprague Lab and across the institution (30%)
• Fully characterizes small molecules (20%)
• Helps execute small molecule screens as needed (10%)
• Helps to train junior members of the lab in proper lab safety and techniques in chemistry (10%)
• Prepares exceptional, well-organized daily laboratory records of experimental procedures and results (10%)
• Participates in drafting manuscripts, grants, and patents as needed (10%)
• Presents research routinely to the lab at lab meetings, participates in lab meeting discussions, and leads collaborative efforts across the institution (5%)
• Upon request, performs other tasks requested to maintain a smooth operation of the laboratory (5%)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees