R&D Associate, Computational Chemistry - UT-ORII

Requisition Id 13796 

Overview:  

Join Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in collaboration with the University of Tennessee (UT) Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (ORII) Convergent Research Initiative as we pioneer the future of radiopharmaceutical therapies. We are seeking a passionate early career computational chemist to contribute to groundbreaking research at the intersection of radiochemistry, chemistry, nuclear medicine, and biomedical engineering. As an ORNL staff member, the successful applicant will be part of a team of ORNL researchers and university research faculty in a UT-ORII Convergent Research Initiative focused on development and advancement of radiopharmaceutical therapies. In addition to being an ORNL staff member, since this role will be aligned with a UT-ORII research initiative, you will also be considered a UT-ORII Fellow.

Research: The research will focus on the advancement of computational chemistry methods in support of radioisotope production, radiopharmaceutical development up to therapeutic applications, including:

• R&D in computational chemistry and support to experiments through active collaborations with ORNL and UT scientists in radioisotope production of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceutical development, leveraging capabilities at the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) and Leadership Computing to advance the field.

• Modeling chemistry of heavy elements, separations, ligand design, complexation.

• Drug molecule interactions with membranes, protein targets, media. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with researchers from diverse disciplines within ORNL, UT, and external partners to leverage expertise in radioisotope production, chemistry, nuclear medicine, radiobiology, medical physics, and clinical oncology for the advancement of radiopharmaceutical therapy development.

• Innovative Research: Conduct innovative research within the field of radionuclide production (e.g., targetry, radionuclide production, target processing) and/or radiopharmaceutical development (e.g., radiopharmaceutical design and synthesis, radiobiology and microdosimetry) to improve therapeutic efficacy and minimize off-target effects.

• Translation and Clinical Integration: Work closely with university and clinical partners to aid in the translation of promising radiopharmaceutical therapies from preclinical studies to clinical trials, ensuring regulatory compliance, safety, and efficacy assessments.

• Grant Writing and Fundraising: Seek external funding opportunities and assist in securing research grants, contracts, and philanthropic support to sustain and expand research activities in radiopharmaceutical therapy development.

• Publication and Dissemination: Publish research findings in high-impact peer-reviewed journals, present at scientific conferences, and engage in outreach activities to disseminate research outcomes and enhance the visibility of ORNL, UT, and ORII in the field of radiopharmaceutical therapy.

• Mentorship and Training: Assist in mentoring graduate students and interns, offering guidance, support, and professional development opportunities to cultivate a diverse and skilled research team.

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. or equivalent degree in computational chemistry/biochemistry/biophysics, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, or a related field. 

• Expertise in one or more of the following fields: relativistic quantum chemistry, molecular simulations using accurate/correlational methodologies, QM/MM, computer assisted drug discovery and analysis, radiochemistry.

• Strong record of research accomplishments evidenced by publications and impactful contributions to the field.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, mentorship, and professional activities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Computer programming skills, relativistic quantum chemistry methods development experience.

• Familiarity with running simulations at leadership class high-performance computing resources.

• Computational support to experiments.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within interdisciplinary research teams and foster collaborations.

• Potential for leadership in research projects, driving innovation in radiopharmaceutical therapy development.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of conveying complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences.

• Commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in research, mentorship, and professional activities.

Application Procedure: Interested candidates should submit a curriculum vitae, a cover letter including a statement of research interests, and contact information for three references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

Letters of Recommendation:

Three references are required.

Please submit three letters of reference when applying to this position. You can upload these directly to your application or have them sent to recruiting@ornl.gov with the position title and number referenced in the subject line.

Instructions to upload documents to your candidate profile:

• Login to your account via jobs.ornl.gov

• View Profile

• Under the My Documents section, select Add a Document

More About UT-ORII:

The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute is a partnership of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and UT created to prepare interdisciplinary leaders in energy, science, and technology and develop a world-class workforce for industry, government, and academia that will drive innovation and create the industries of the future. More information is available at University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (utorii.com). Today’s energy economy is driven by disruptive technologies and swift change. The US is in a global competition for jobs, talent, and investment. To successfully compete, we must develop leadership talent in research and development (R&D), encourage entrepreneurship, and create an educational environment that promotes rapid innovation and attracts skilled professionals. Leveraging a 75-plus-year UT-ORNL partnership, UT and ORNL have developed joint institutes, joint facilities, interdisciplinary PhD programs, and comprehensive joint faculty arrangements, including 17 Governor’s Chairs recruited for the significance of their impacts in their fields. UT-ORII’s overall goal is to become a center for convergent research and talent development, helping maintain US prominence as a global innovation leader and providing tangible benefits to Tennessee.

Benefits at ORNL:  

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain talented people. The laboratory offers many employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to help you and your family live happy and healthy. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also provided for convenience.

Other benefits include: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.