Principal Scientist in Chemical Induced Proximity

St Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 138,320 - 262,080; Full time

Job summary

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis seeks a Principal Scientist to direct the Chemical Induced Proximity Center within the Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics.

You will lead drug discovery programs, set strategy, and mentor scientists in a collaborative environment. The role requires guiding multidisciplinary teams, advancing PROTACs and other bifunctional modulators, and shaping publication and patent activity while partnering with global CROs and internal ADMET/DMPK

Qualifications

• PhD with management experience preferred; doctoral degree if required.
• Experience in drug discovery in Pharma/Biotech industry highly preferred.
• Experience with computational design or AI/ML preferred.

Responsibilities

• Set up the chemistry strategy for projects and advance drug discovery programs.
• Lead and manage a team of scientists and large-scale multidisciplinary projects.
• Recruit, grow, guide, and mentor junior staff.
• Stay at the forefront of induced proximity platforms (PROTACs, molecular glues).
• Lead CROs and external chemistry partners worldwide.
• Oversee SAR studies to improve potency and drug-like properties.

Skills

Drug discovery experience

Computational design / AI-ML

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific area

PhD

Job description

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly motivated and innovative Principal Scientist with specialized expertise in drug discovery to direct our Chemical Induced Proximity Center in the highly collaborative Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Responsibilities

• Set up the chemistry strategy for projects and advance drug discovery programs by collaborating across departmental centers and various departments.
• Lead and manage a team of scientists and large-scale multidisciplinary projects, providing direction in specific areas of expertise.
• Recruit, grow, guide, and mentor junior staff.
• Stay at the forefront of induced proximity platforms, including PROTACs, molecular glues, and other bifunctional or allosteric modulators.
• Evaluate new technologies, chemical tools, and screening platforms that accelerate development of proximity-based therapeutics.
• Design and optimize focused chemical libraries to identify hits, leads, and drug candidates that induce selective protein interactions and cellular phenotypic changes.
• Maintain collaborative partnerships while ensuring recognition on collaborating publications and patents.
• Lead and manage contract research organizations (CROs) and external chemistry partners worldwide.
• Oversee structure‑activity relationship (SAR) studies to enhance potency, selectivity, and drug‑like properties of candidate molecules, and improve pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological profiles in collaboration with ADMET and DMPK teams.
• Serve as functional expert in due diligence for assets in‑licensing and discovery partnerships.
• Lead publication efforts in high‑impact scientific journals.

Qualifications

• PhD with management experience preferred; doctoral degree if required.
• Experience in drug discovery in Pharma/Biotech industry highly preferred.
• Experience with computational design or AI/ML preferred.

Minimum Education

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific area (required).
• PhD preferred.

Minimum Experience

• Fifteen (15) years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor’s degree.
• Thirteen (13) years of relevant work experience with a Master’s degree.
• Ten (10) years of relevant work experience with a PhD.

Benefits

St. Jude provides high‑quality benefits including medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, financial security, retirement, wellness, time‑off, educational, and family‑friendly options, and covers medical premiums for employees with low additional costs for dependents.

Compensation

Estimated salary range: $138,320 – $262,080 per year for the role of Principal Scientist in Chemical Induced Proximity.

Equal Opportunity Employer

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer.