University of Iowa/ College of Pharmacy

Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics

Postdoctoral Scholar-Dr. Kerns' Laboratory

The Kerns laboratory at the University of Iowa is seeking a highly motivated and an independent postdoctoral scholar, with training and expertise in the field of Synthetic Organic/Medicinal Chemistry. The research projects provide opportunities to have major, positive impacts on human medicine through collaborative studies in the design, synthesis, and evaluation of new small molecule therapeutics for the treatment of diabetes and diabetes-associated disease. The projects will, in particular, focus on design and synthesis of analogs, prodrugs, and probes, as well as scale-up synthesis and opportunity for contributing to characterization of physical properties of lead structures. This position will offer numerous opportunities for the right candidate to hone their experimental, project management, and scientific writing skills, by working closely with the PI and interdisciplinary collaborators from industry and academia, as well as working on grants and manuscripts. In addition to applying expertise in synthesis of novel small molecules, the postdoctoral scholar will have the opportunity to strongly enhance expertise in the general areas of structure-based and computer-aided drug design if desired.

Key Areas of Responsibility:

• Maintain a strong awareness of current scientific literature, particularly in the area of small molecule therapeutics being developed for treatment of diabetes and diabetes associated disease, as well as in the area of organic synthesis and actively apply new concepts and methods as appropriate.

• Publish the research outcome in distinguished scientific journals and create presentations for outside scientific meetings and conferences.

• Work alongside PI in collaborative drug discovery including direct interactions with collaborating investigators and lab members, and on preparation of research proposals.

• Develop and establish operating procedures for the common instruments and procedures in the lab, participate in maintaining and ordering laboratory disposable and chemicals, as well as provide assistance and guidance to junior lab members in methodology and techniques in compound synthesis and purification.