Scientist / Senior Scientist, Computational Chemistry
At Kestrel our aspiration is to invent brilliant technologies and develop novel small molecule agents for cancer targets of exceptional scientific and clinical importance, beginning with mutant RAS. Our reliance is on the rigorous application of innovative science in the service of the discovery of new medicines for people with cancer. Our priority is patients, always.
Kestrel is an oncology biotech start-up in its early stages of growth, having been in operation since January of 2022. We have excellent funding and, having moved into our new laboratory space in early 2023, are in the process of expanding our team.
We are seeking a highly motivated scientist/senior scientist to join our computational chemistry team. The candidate should have a strong track-record of accomplishments in applying computational chemistry in drug discovery. They must have an in-depth knowledge of cheminformatics and modern computational chemistry. Experience with using machine learning and deep learning in the drug discovery context is a plus. It is expected that the candidate will work in a multidisciplinary team to help establish and influence project strategy. Effective communication across functions is highly desired.
The successful candidate will report directly to the Associate Director of Computational Chemistry.
Key Responsibilities
- Work closely with the medicinal chemistry team on multiple small molecule drug discovery programs
- Advance small molecule drug discovery programs at Kestrel using structure- and ligand-based drug design.
- Identify and implement cutting-edge computational tools and workflows relevant to Kestrel’s mission.
- Use structural analysis and computational modeling to aid new target selection.
- Communicate findings and project updates clearly and effectively to team members and stakeholders.
Professional Experience & Qualifications
- Ph.D. in Computational Chemistry or related field with 5+ years of experience working in small molecule drug discovery as a computational chemist.
- Extensive knowledge in cheminformatics and modern data analytics in the drug discovery context.
- Expertise in a variety of computational methods in structure- and/or ligand-based drug design. This includes but is not limited to docking, virtual screening, homology modeling, QM, MD simulations, binding free energy calculations, and QSAR modeling.
- Experience with various molecular modeling platforms (MOE, Schrodinger suite, etc.)
- Strong programming skills in Python or other scripting languages.
- Demonstrated leadership in computational chemistry and drug discovery as evidenced by a strong record of scientific accomplishment and cross-functional collaboration.
- Experience working with AI/ML methods in drug discovery is preferred.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
Kestrel Therapeutics offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and disability insurance, as well as paid time off and a 401k plan.
Kestrel Therapeutics is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law.
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