Assistant Professors: Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery -VCU MCC - Virginia Commonwealth University

Mission or Goal of Unit:

The Department of Pharmacology andToxicology is home to a community of researchers, students and faculty who striveto improve the treatment of medical disorders through a better understanding ofthe pharmacology of agents and by developing safer and more effective drugs.

Highly motivated non-tenure-trackResearch Assistant Professors are sought to join the laboratory of Dr. Said Sebtiat the NCI designated Massey Cancer Center (MCC) and the Department ofPharmacology and Toxicology. The research focus of the laboratory is tounderstand at the basic science level how normal cells become malignant and totranslate such fundamental knowledge to the clinic. Specifically, thecandidates will be involved in exciting and highly integratedinter-disciplinary research projects concerning understanding aberrantoncogenic KRAS signal transduction pathways in cancer and designing novelanti-cancer drugs based on this knowledge. 

The following are examples ofprojects that the candidates will be engaged in: 

1. Understanding the mechanism of mutantKRAS addiction and developing drugs to thwart mutant KRAS-drivencancers 
2. Identifying small molecules thatbind KRAS and investigating the mechanism by which they block oncogenesis.
3. Identifying kinases that are synthetically lethal withmutant KRAS. 
4. Identifying cell surface proteins specifically expressedon human cancers that are addicted to mutant KRAS, and developing therapeuticstrategies based on these discoveries. 
5. Developing dual FTase and GGTase-1 inhibitors as novel anti-cancer drugs targeting human tumors that harbormutant KRAS.

Chief Purpose of this position: 

As a member of Dr. Sebti’slaboratory, the candidate is expected to work collaboratively as a lab teammember in the research areas described above. Candidates will also be expectedto submit grant applications for peer-reviewed extramural funding.

As a member of the cancer center,the candidate will undertake cancer research activities that are alignedwith the MCC vision and mission: to improve the lives of all Virginians bydelivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centered prevention andtreatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input and engagement;and education and training of the next generation of researchers and healthcareprofessionals. The vision of Massey is to be a premier community-focused cancercenter leading the nation in cancer health equity and ensuring optimal healthoutcomes for all.

As a faculty member in the department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Schoolof Medicine, the candidate will also support the department with teachingresponsibilities including team-teaching medical and graduate levelscourses. The candidate will be responsible for training and being a mentorto graduate students seeking M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. The candidate willserve as members of departmental as well as university wide service committees.

Position Responsibilities:

Research: Undertake cancer research activities that are alignedwith MCC vision and mission. Submit and obtain peer-reviewed grants preferablyR-type grants from NCI. Publish manuscripts in high impact journals. Workclosely with Dr. Sebti to harness the considerable intellectual talent andscientific resources of VCU and focus them on solving the nation’s cancerproblem.

Teaching and Mentoring: Support the department of pharmacology and toxicology withteaching responsibilities including team-teaching medical and graduatelevels courses. Train and mentor graduate students seeking M.S. and Ph.D.degrees.

Service: Serve as member of departmental as well as universitywide service committees.

 Required Qualifications: 

• Ph.D and a minimum of 8 years extensive experience in cancer molecular biology, biochemistry, cancer cell biology, drug discovery and/or pharmacology.
• Understanding of Ras signal transduction pathways
• Experience with in vitro assays and in vivo animal models as they relate to drug discovery
• Ability to maintain detailed documentation through electronic and notebook means.
• Demonstrated creativity, high motivation, solid communication skills and experience in writing progress reports and manuscripts for peer-reviewed publications.
• Extensive publication record.
• Working in multi-disciplinary fields.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity or a commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications:  

• Experience working in a matrix environment within academic medicine.
• Proven success in collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.
• Proven trainee and faculty mentorship skills.
• Experience working closely with chemists, structural biologists and clinical researchers.

About VCU:

Virginia Commonwealth University isa premier urban, public research university with a diverse student body andboth research-intensive and community-engaged designations from the CarnegieFoundation. Located in historic Richmond, Virginia, VCU enrolls more than31,000 students on two campuses.

The mission of the School of Medicine is to provide preeminent education tophysicians and scientists in order to improve the quality of health care forhumanity. Through innovative, scholarly activity and a diverse educationalcontext, the School seeks to create and apply new knowledge, and toprovide and continuously improve systems of medical and science education.Furthermore, it is our mission to develop more effective health carepractices to address the needs of the diverse populations we serve, and toprovide distinguished leadership in the advancement of medicine and science.

The mission of the Massey Cancer Center is to improve the lives of allVirginians by delivering cutting-edge cancer care through patient-centeredprevention and treatment; high-impact, innovative research; community input andengagement; and education and training of the next generation of researchersand healthcare professionals. The vision of Massey is to be a premiercommunity-focused cancer center leading the nation in cancer health equity andensuring optimal health outcomes for all.

Position Type: Teaching & Research Faculty
Full time equivalent: 100
Tenure: Ineligible
Rank: Assistant Professor
Months: 12
Department:School of Medicine - Pharmacology and Toxicology

Salary: Commensurate

ORP Eligible: Yes

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Julian Owens
Contact Email: Julian.Owens@vcuhealth.org