Research Associate III, S1

The University of Alabama in Huntsville; Alabama; On-site; USD 44,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Alabama in Huntsville seeks a Research Associate to perform research, drug design, and experimental work in synthetic organic chemistry, small molecules, and peptidomimetics. Responsibilities include purification, characterization, metabolite identification, and bioanalytical work to evaluate new chemical entities.

You will analyze data for presentations and publications, manage lab inventory, supervise students, and prepare materials using MOE, ChemDraw, SciFinder, BioRender,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 2–3 years of lab research focused on infectious diseases and drug discovery.
• Experience in medicinal chemistry publications is a plus.
• Strong written and oral communication; ability to work in a team.

Responsibilities

• Perform research, drug design, and benchwork including synthesis and purification of small molecules.
• Characterize NCEs and metabolites using spectroscopic and spectrometric tools.
• Analyze data for publications and project reporting using chemistry software and AI tools.
• Manage inventory and supervise undergraduate/graduate students.

Skills

Synthetic organic chemistry

Small molecules

Peptidomimetics

Bioanalytical chemistry

Spectroscopic methods

MOE

ChemDraw

SciFinder

AI-based chemistry tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Science/Engineering or related field

2-3 years lab research experience

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

Purpose of the Position

The Research Associate will perform research, drug design, and experimental research involving synthetic organic chemistry, small‑molecule and peptidomimetic synthesis, purification, and characterization. Performs metabolite identification and bioanalytical chemistry to evaluate new chemical entities (NCEs) and their metabolites using spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. The incumbent will also analyze and interpret research data and prepare materials for presentations, peer‑reviewed publications, and project reporting using specialized chemistry, scientific, desktop publishing, and AI‑based tools.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Perform research, drug design, and experimental/benchwork that includes synthetic organic chemistry, purification and characterization of small molecules, metabolite identification, and bioanalytical chemistry.
• Duties include synthesizing small molecules and peptidomimetics and characterizing new chemical entities (NCEs) and their metabolites using spectroscopic and spectrometric tools.
• Analyze data for presentations, prepare peer‑reviewed publications, and manage project reporting using desktop publishing software like MS Office Suite, MNova, Molecular Operating Environment (MOE), ChemDraw, SciFinder, BioRender, and AI‑based chemistry tools.
• Manage inventory and restock lab supplies.
• Provide lab supervision to undergraduate and graduate students.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in Science, Engineering, or a related field
• 2-3 years of laboratory research experience focused on infectious diseases and antineoplastic drug discovery.
• Exposure to biochemistry and molecular pharmacology is a plus.
• Experience as authors/co‑authors of peer‑reviewed articles in medicinal chemistry journals.
• Must have attributes that include self‑motivation and good organizational skills.
• Must have strong oral and written communication skills.
• Must be able to work collaboratively with team members.

Desired Qualifications

• M.S. or a Ph.D. degree in Organic Chemistry or Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry preferred

Published Salary (if available)

$52,216