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The Brain Tumor Drug Discovery Program within the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, is recruiting for an open-rank Project Scientist to participate in drug discovery for brain tumors.

Candidates are expected to have extensive experience in drug discovery, in particular in areas of DMPK science, with preferred expertise in drug discovery for CNS applications. The candidate is expected to have significant technical and practical knowledge in DMPK, including the design and/or set up of in vitro assays to measure metabolic stability, metabolite ID, permeability and efflux, CYP450 assays, and hERG interactions. Experience working with in vitro kinase assays are also required. Moreover, the candidate should have considerable expertise in in vivo profiling of blood and tissue pharmacokinetics.

The Brain Tumor Drug Discovery Program at UCLA has established an integrated translational science program, bridging biology, molecular diagnostics, and drug discovery exclusively towards the discovery and development of new therapies for malignant brain tumors. This begins with an internationally recognized team of brain tumor investigators with expertise in biology (Nathanson, Bhaduri), clinical trials (Cloughesy), drug discovery and development (Olivero and Jung), bioinformatics (Graeber) and molecular imaging (Ellingson and Czernin). This team has collectively developed multiple clinical drug candidates, including two that are currently in clinical trials for GBM patients, and designed and executed over 100 clinical trials for brain tumor patients. The program also includes a rich and unique resource of comprehensively characterized preclinical brain tumor models (~200 patient derived xenografts and gliomaspheres), state of the art instrumentation (e.g. Mass spectrometers, PET/CT, MRI) and nearly 4, 000 sq ft of total preclinical work space. Finally, the Program and its interdisciplinary team is well funded through both governmental and non-governmental funding sources, including the UCLA Brain Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE).

To meet the Program’s distinct and growing needs, the successful candidate will be responsible for the management of in-vitro and in-vivo preclinical ADME/PK for novel drug candidates; supervising and managing students, post-doctoral researchers and research technicians.

Other activities will include:
• Strategic planning/project management – overseeing experimental studies
• Approval – oversee all aspects of nonclinical development and interactions with the Division of Laboratory Animal Medicine
• Integrating preclinical ADME research from cells to murine models

• Teaching and training – provide lectures to graduate and undergraduate students

Candidates must have a PhD in Pharmacology, Chemistry or a related discipline, and documented experience in ADME/PK in drug discovery and development for cancer. The candidate must have experience involving standard molecular biology techniques including protein biochemical methods and cell culture. Diverse phenotypic and mechanistic assays applied to neuroscience are highly desirable. Previous experience in teaching at university-level or student/staff supervision will be considered an asset.

Candidate must also document ability to evaluate proposed investigational projects, in vitro and in-vivo. The successful candidate must have a track record of publications in high-impact journals (first or co-first author) within the field of expertise. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter summarizing professional experience, a curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references.

See Table 37B for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $71,500 - $125,600.

The shared values of the DGSOM are expressed in the Cultural North Star, which was developed by members of our community and affirms our unswerving commitment to doing what’s right, making things better, and being kind. These are the standards to which we hold ourselves, and one another. Please read more about this important DGSOM program at https://medschool.ucla.edu/cultural-north-star.

The David Geffen School of Medicine Anti-racism roadmap is our co-created path to ensuring racial justice, equity, diversity and inclusion. We are committed to actively dismantling structural racism in our organization as described in more detail at: https://medschool.ucla.edu/diversity-anti-racism-roadmap

All aspects of searches are confidential and all candidates are expected to review and abide by UC Regents Policy 1111 on Statement on Ethical Values and Standards of Conduct https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/governance/policies/1111.html.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age or protected veteran status. For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, see: UC Nondiscrimination & Affirmative Action Policy.