Job Description
Faculty Position - RNA Therapeutics Chemistry
Jacksonville
Florida
Description of Role and Responsibilities
The Mayo Clinic RNA Therapeutics Discovery and Translation Program is recruiting an exceptional and highly creative RNA therapeutics chemist (PhD) to help develop the next generation of RNA-based medicines with the potential for meaningful translation to patients. This is an opportunity for a scientist who wants to move beyond applying established approaches and instead, invent new ways to make RNA therapeutics more potent, selective, durable, and clinically useful.
The scientist will work with a multidisciplinary team to conceive, design, and advance innovative RNA therapeutics toward clinical translation. Depending on the expertise, the work is expected to include:
• Design and optimization of ASOs, siRNAs, mRNAs, and other nucleic acid therapeutics
• Development and application of novel nucleoside, backbone, conjugation, and other chemical modifications
• Optimization of RNA therapeutics for potency, stability, pharmacokinetics, biodistribution, cellular uptake, and safety
• Development of strategies for tissue- and cell-selective delivery
• Integration of chemistry, RNA biology, pharmacology, and disease biology to establish structure- activity relationships and therapeutic design principles
• Exploration of new RNA therapeutic architectures and mechanisms
• Design of rigorous experiments to understand why candidate molecules succeed or fail
• Translation of promising discoveries from molecular design through preclinical development and ultimately toward therapies for patients
• Collaboration with biologists, pharmacologists, clinicians, computational scientists, and external academic and industry partners
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for a scientist with outstanding intellectual curiosity, creativity, and scientific rigor. Candidates may range from an exceptional early-career scientist to a more established investigator.
Strong candidates will have:
• PhD in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, nucleic acid chemistry, or a closely related discipline
• Significant research experience in RNA or oligonucleotide therapeutics
• Expertise in one or more of ASO, siRNA, mRNA, oligonucleotide chemistry, nucleoside chemistry, RNA modification, conjugation, or RNA delivery
• Strong understanding of the relationships between chemical structure and biological activity
• Ability to design experiments that connect molecular properties with pharmacology and therapeutic performance
• A record of innovative scientific contributions demonstrated through publications, patents, therapeutic programs, or other accomplishments
• Ability and enthusiasm to work across traditional disciplinary boundaries
• Currently holding extramural funding from NIH and other funding agencies. Early-stage candidates are expected to be competitive for such funding.
Experience with in vivo pharmacology, extrahepatic delivery, medicinal chemistry optimization, RNA synthesis/analytics, oligonucleotide conjugates, lipid or non-lipid delivery systems, or translational drug development would be particularly valuable.
This position will be located at Mayo Clinic Florida with significant enterprise engagement.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will have a PhD in chemistry, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, nucleic acid chemistry, or a closely related discipline. The candidate should have significant research experience in RNA or oligonucleotide chemistry. They should have expertise in one or more of ASO, siRNA, mRNA, oligonucleotide chemistry, nucleoside chemistry, RNA modification, conjugation, or RNA delivery. Appointment and academic rank will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications.
Applications should include a full CV/Bibliography, statement of research interests, and list of references.
