Associate Director, Assay Development - Institute for Drug Discovery

The University of Texas Medical Branch; Galveston (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Texas Medical Branch's Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery seeks an Associate Director of Assay Development to lead a state‑of‑the‑art HTS and automation facility in designing, optimizing, and implementing high‑quality biochemical and cellular assays.

Reporting to senior leadership, you will collaborate with cross‑functional teams to drive assay development, contribute to target validation, and help identify lead compounds for further development in a fast‑paced research

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field with 6+ years of assay development experience.
• Extensive experience in biochemical and cell-based high-throughput screening and automated workflows.
• Strong data analysis skills and familiarity with assay platforms and detection technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead design, optimization, and validation of biochemical and cellular assays for drug discovery.
• Manage automation workflows and ensure biosafety within BSL-2 environments.
• Maintain data quality control standards.
• Oversee instrument maintenance and operations.
• Collaborate with project teams to define assay requirements and performance criteria.
• Implement technologies to enhance sensitivity, specificity, and robustness.
• Manage assay development projects, timelines, resources, and budgets.
• Evaluate new assay platforms and automation technologies to improve throughput.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and industry standards.
• Provide technical guidance to staff on assay strategies and troubleshooting.
• Stay abreast of trends and best practices in assay development.
• Foster collaboration and scientific excellence within the assay development team.

Skills

Assay design

Assay optimization

Data analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Drug discovery knowledge

Education

Ph.D. in Molecular Biology/Biochemistry/Pharmacology or related field

Tools

Assay platforms

Automation software

Job description

Job Summary

Reporting to the VP, Drug Discovery, and Director of the Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery ("SIDD"), the Associate Director, Assay Development will play a pivotal role in advancing our drug discovery programs by leading a state‑of‑the‑art high‑throughput screening (HTS) and automation facility in the design, optimization, and implementation of high‑quality biochemical and cellular assays and troubleshooting of HTS campaigns. This individual will work closely with cross‑functional teams to drive assay development efforts, contribute to target validation, and facilitate the identification of lead compounds for further development. The successful candidate will have a strong background in assay development, a track record of innovation, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative research environment. The Sealy Institute for Drug Discovery (SIDD) is a renowned research institute dedicated to advancing drug discovery and development to address unmet medical needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design, optimization, and validation of biochemical and cellular assays to support drug discovery programs.
• Manage automation workflows, ensuring biosafety compliance within BSL-2 environments.
• Maintain data quality control standards.
• Oversee instrument maintenance and operations.
• Collaborate with project teams to define assay requirements, establish performance criteria, and prioritize development activities.
• Implement state-of-the-art technologies and methodologies to enhance assay sensitivity, specificity, and robustness.
• Manage assay development projects, including timelines, resources, and budget allocation.
• Evaluate and integrate new assay platforms, instrumentation, and automation technologies to improve efficiency and throughput.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory guidelines and industry standards for assay development and validation.
• Provide technical expertise and guidance to research staff on assay development strategies and troubleshooting.
• Stay abreast of emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in assay development and drug discovery.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and scientific excellence within the assay development team.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expertise in the design, optimization, and validation of biochemical and cellular assays for drug discovery applications.
• Proficiency in a wide range of assay formats and detection technologies, including fluorescence, luminescence, and label‑free assays.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to troubleshoot complex assay issues.
• Experience managing cross‑functional projects in a collaborative research environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with diverse stakeholders.
• Knowledge of drug discovery principles and processes, including target identification, validation, and lead optimization.
• Familiarity with relevant software tools for data analysis and assay automation.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and meet project deadlines in a fast‑paced research environment.

Minimum Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, or related field plus six (6) years of industry or academic experience in assay development, preferably in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology sector.
• Experience in biochemical and cell‑based high‑throughput screening, including assay development and optimization as well as experience with automated screening workflows.

Equal Employment Opportunity

UTMB Health strives to provide equal opportunity employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by institutional policy or by federal, state or local laws unless such distinction is required by law. As a Federal Contractor, UTMB Health takes affirmative action to hire and advance protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

Primary Location

United States – Texas – Galveston

Work Location

1055 - Medical Research Building