Open Positions
Multiple postdoctoral positions in RNA chemical biology are available in the Disney group in the Department of Chemistry at The Scripps Research Institute. Interested applicants should send their CV and three letters of reference to mdisney@ufl.edu. A full description of the group’s research focus is available on the web at www.scripps.ufl.edu/disney.
Projects with an emphasis on structural biology include: (i) developing methods to allow for the structural elucidation of RNA-small molecule complexes by using either NMR spectroscopy and computation or X-ray crystallography; (ii) using these structural studies to understand complex formation in a rigorous biophysical manner and lead optimizing compounds; and, (iii) developing methods to study RNA structure in cells by using cell-permeable chemical reagents.
Projects with an emphasis on chemical biology include: (i) developing methods to rapidly expand information on the small molecules that bind RNA and on the RNA motifs that bind small molecules; (ii) using these data to identify new drug targets from only RNA sequence; (iii) using the identified compounds to study RNA biology in cells and in vivo; and (iv) expanding tools available to manipulate RNA in cells.
Representative publications in this area from our group include: studying the RNA repeats that cause genetically defined ALS and dementia (see: Neuron. 2014 Sep 3;83(5):1043-50) and muscular dystrophy (see: Nat. Chem. Biol. 2017 Feb;13(2):188-193); and using sequence-based RNA drug design to develop novel compounds that target non-coding RNAs in highly drug-resistant cancers (see: Nat. Chem. Biol. 2014 Apr;10(4):291-7. and Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2016 May 24;113(21):5898-903).
Successful candidates will have a proven track record of publishing in high-impact journals, have experience in nucleic acids, medicinal chemistry, or chemical biology, and can work successfully as a member of a team. An emphasis will be placed on candidates that have a track record of high-impact publications. Expertise with RNA-seq data analysis and chemical and structural biology is highly desired.
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