Department

BSD MED - Genetic Medicine - Center for Chemical Biology and Therapeutics (CCBT)

About the Department

The Center for Chemical Biology and Therapeutics (CCBT) at the University of Chicago advances interdisciplinary research at the interface of chemical biology and medicine. Co-directed by Dr. Hening Lin and Dr. Chuan He, CCBT brings together chemists, biologists, engineers, and clinical scientists to advance early-stage drug discovery through AI-guided discovery, medicinal chemistry, and high-throughput screening. Since launching in early 2025, CCBT has built a broad portfolio of collaborative research projects and helped collaborators secure extramural funding. CCBT also supports the newly established Therapeutic Discovery Institute (TDI) by building a pipeline of promising projects for further translational development, industry partnerships, biotech incubation, and clinical translation.

Job Summary

The Staff Scientist will play a key role in supporting and advancing the research initiatives of CCBT. The ideal candidate will have expertise in medicinal chemistry, organic synthesis, chemical biology, fragment-based drug discovery, library screening, lead optimization, assay development, and will contribute to experimental design, project execution, data analysis, and scientific communication. This position provides an excellent opportunity to work in a dynamic and collaborative research environment while driving innovative therapeutic discoveries.

Responsibilities

• Lead the chemical biology efforts in the Therapeutic Core Facility.
• Design and perform experiments in areas such as fragment-based drug discovery, high-throughput screening, chemical synthesis, drug solubility, membrane permeability, liver microsome stability, PK/PD.
• Collaborate with faculty, postdocs, and students to facilitate research programs.
• Provide technical expertise, mentorship, and training to junior researchers.
• Participate in grant writing, manuscript preparation, patent application, and scientific presentations.
• Oversee research operations, equipment maintenance, and laboratory protocols of the Therapeutic Core.
• Support the development of the Therapeutic Core Facility by optimizing workflows and methodologies.
• Coordinate with external partners, core facilities, and funding agencies as needed.
• Train and supervise non-PhD level lab technicians/assistants.
• Follow all research safety regulations and ensure that the Therapeutic Core Facility operates in a safe environment.
• Assist the Center Directors in areas as needed.
• Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis. Facilitates and promotes a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.
• Develops laboratory protocols and training on new techniques. Manage, analyze and make recommendations on complex data sets for research.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field.

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Ph.D. in Chemical Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmacology, or a related field.
  

Experience:

• Experience with organic synthesis.
• Experience with drug design.
• Experience with library synthesis and screening.
• Experience with assay development.
• Experience with molecular docking.
• Experience with liver microsome stability assay.
• Experience with PK/PD.
• Experience with protein expression and purification.
   

Preferred Competencies

• Strong experimental and analytical skills in protein biochemistry.
• Proven track record of scientific publications and research contributions.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong manuscript and proposal writing skills.
• Ability to work with people from different backgrounds.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
   

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$80,000.00 - $100,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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