Scientist I - Viral Diseases Program

Federallabs; Silver Spring, Northern (MD, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

HJF in Silver Spring, MD, seeks a Scientist I to support multidisciplinary research programs focused on discovering and developing therapeutics against high-priority infectious diseases. The role integrates computational approaches with experimental virology, parasitology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology to advance preclinical candidates.

The Scientist will apply docking, virtual screening, MD simulations, and structure-based design to identify targets and lead compounds and will

Qualifications

• Expertise at the interface of computational drug discovery, structural biology, and infectious-disease research.
• Experience with molecular docking, virtual screening, and molecular dynamics simulations.
• Ability to integrate computational predictions with experimental data from virology, parasitology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacology.

Responsibilities

• Develop and apply computational approaches to identify therapeutic targets and lead candidates.
• Collaborate with computational scientists and wet-lab biologists to translate findings into testable hypotheses.
• Support target validation, hit identification, structure–activity relationship studies, and lead optimization in preclinical discovery.

Job description

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Scientist I tosupport multidisciplinary research programs focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics against high-priority infectious diseases. The position requires specialized expertise at the interface of computational drug discovery, structural biology, and experimental infectious-disease research.

This position will be in support of the Integrated Pathogen Therapeutics Department within the Viral Diseases Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD. In this role, the Scientist will develop and apply computational approaches to identify, characterize, and prioritize therapeutic targets and small-molecule candidates. Approaches will include molecular docking, virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulations, protein–ligand and protein–protein interaction modeling, and structure-based drug design. The Scientist will integrate computational predictions with experimental virology, parasitology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacological data to support target validation, hit identification, structure–activity relationship studies, and lead optimization. Additionally, the Scientist will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and collaborate closely with computational scientists, biologists, medicinal chemists, and pharmacologists to translate computational findings into experimentally testable hypotheses and advance therapeutic candidates through preclinical discovery.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike.Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.