Post-doctoral Associate

Position Details
Position Information

Recruitment/Posting Title	Post-doctoral Associate
Department	SEBS-Plant Biology
Salary	Commensurate With Experience
Posting Summary	A joint postdoctoral position is available in the laboratories of Dr. Nilgun E. Tumer in the Department of Plant Biology and Dr. Jacques Roberge in the Office of Research at Rutgers University to identify small molecule inhibitors against ricin and Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2). Shiga toxins are the main virulence factors of Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) that causes food poisoning and ricin is a worldwide problem as a biothreat agent. There is no effective therapy and there is an urgent need to counter disease caused by these toxins. We have used fragment-based drug discovery (FBLD) with surface plasmon resonance using Biacore 8K+ to identify lead compounds that bind to ricin and Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) and inhibit their activity. The successful candidate will work on optimizing the compounds identified from our recent work using fragment-based methods and structure-based design 1-4. Fragment optimization by medicinal chemistry, as well as docking and binding site analysis by SiteMap, WaterMap and FEP+ will be used to optimize the leads. The affinities will be determined using a fluorescence polarization assay, potency will be analyzed in cell-free and cell-based assays. A virtual screen will be carried out to identify new chemical scaffolds and new binding elements to combine with our current leads. The ideal candidate should have a Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry or a related field and experience in synthetic chemistry, computational docking and screening for drug discovery. Interested applicants must apply online through ROCS system of Rutgers University https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/223721 and upload CV, research interests, PhD certification, and contact information for at least 4 references. Information on Dr. Tumer’s research can be found at: https://plantbiology.rutgers.edu/faculty/tumer/Nilgun_Tumer.html And for Dr. Jacques Roberge can be found at: https://research.rutgers.edu/people/jacques-y-roberge 1. Rudolph, M. J.; Dutta, A.; Tsymbal, A. M.; McLaughlin, J. E.; Chen, Y.; Davis, S. A.; Theodorous, S. A.; Pierce, M.; Algava, B.; Zhang, X.; Szekely, Z.; Roberge, J. Y.; Li, X. P.; Tumer, N. E., Structure-based design and optimization of a new class of small molecule inhibitors targeting the P-stalk binding pocket of ricin. Bioorg Med Chem 2024, 100, 117614. 2. Rudolph, M. J.; Davis, S. A.; Tumer, N. E.; Li, X. P., Structural basis for the interaction of Shiga toxin 2a with a C-terminal peptide of ribosomal P stalk proteins. J Biol Chem 2020, 295 (46), 15588-15596. 3. Li, X. P.; Harijan, R. K.; Kahn, J. N.; Schramm, V. L.; Tumer, N. E., Small Molecule Inhibitors Targeting the Interaction of Ricin Toxin A Subunit with Ribosomes. ACS Infect Dis 2020, 6 (7), 1894-1905. 4. Li, X. P.; Harijan, R. K.; Cao, B.; Kahn, J. N.; Pierce, M.; Tsymbal, A. M.; Roberge, J. Y.; Augeri, D.; Tumer, N. E., Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Ricin Inhibitors Targeting Ribosome Binding Using Fragment-Based Methods and Structure-Based Design. J Med Chem 2021, 64 (20), 15334-15348.
Position Status	Full Time
Posting Number	24FA0289
Posting Open Date	03/15/2024
Posting Close Date

Qualifications

Minimum Education and Experience	Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry or a related field, and experience in synthetic chemistry, computational docking and screening for drug discovery.
Certifications/Licenses	Ph.D.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Equipment Utilized
Physical Demands and Work Environment
Overview
Statement	Information on Dr. Tumer’s research can be found at: https://plantbiology.rutgers.edu/faculty/tumer/Nilgun_Tumer.html And for Dr. Jacques Roberge can be found at: https://research.rutgers.edu/people/jacques-y-roberge

Posting Details

Special Instructions to Applicants	Interested applicants must apply online through ROCS system of Rutgers University https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/223721 and upload CV, research interests, PhD certification, and contact information for at least 4 references.
Quick Link to Posting	https://jobs.rutgers.edu/postings/223721
Campus	Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Home Location Campus	Cook (RU-New Brunswick)
City	New Brunswick
State	NJ
Location Details	Plant Biology Department, 59 Dudley Road – Foran Hall, New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Pre-employment Screenings

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