Description

Working at Moffitt is both a career and a mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer.
As the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center based in Florida, Moffitt employs some of the best and brightest minds from around the world. Join a dedicated team of nearly 10,000 who are shaping the future we envision.
Moffitt has been recognized as a Best and Brightest Company to Work for in the Nation, a Digital Health Most Wired Organization and continually named one of the Tampa Bay Time’s Top Workplaces.
A National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center since 2001.

Summary

The Chemical Biology Core Department at Moffitt Cancer Center is seeking a talented and motivated individual to join as a Chemical Biology Specialist III.

The Chemical Biology Core (CBC) is comprised of two functional units: the Chemistry Division and the Structural Biology Division. The primary purpose of the Chemistry division is to maintain chemistry equipment and assist, identify and optimize chemical probes and new lead compounds that may benefit both biochemical mechanistic studies and drug discovery & development. The primary purpose of the Structural Biology division is to assist with experiments related to protein purification, binding characterization, and structure determination. The two divisions work together to provide complementary approaches for identifying novel therapeutic targets and anti-cancer agents.

The position will initially be based at our Magnolia Campus, ultimately, the position will be located at Moffitt at Speros in Land O’Lakes, FL once the facility opens mid July 2026.

Position Highlights:

• The primary responsibilities of this position are for developing synthetic and medicinal chemistry strategies in support of research and development in collaborative Drug Discovery and Chemical Biology research projects and effective management of chemistry equipment such as NMR, SFC, LCMS, HPLC, microwave reactors, and chemical purification systems.
• Responsible for maintaining chemistry equipment with a team of chemists, designing, synthesizing, chemical analysis, purification of small molecules, generating experimental reports of all assigned projects and providing expert assistance in the synthesis of focused compound libraries.

The Ideal Candidate:

• Experience in effectively managing chemistry equipment, synthetic and medicinal chemistry strategies at the project level to ensure the timely delivery of project milestones is required.
• Broad working knowledge of synthetic organic chemistry, multi-step synthesis of small molecules and applications of analytical chemistry (NMR, HPLC and Mass spectrometry) to conduct chemistry research in a drug discovery and chemical biology environment is essential.
• Must possess strong synthetic organic chemistry skills, excellent communication and problem-solving skills and positive interaction with a diverse group of research staff inside and outside the institution and a proactive attitude in a service provision.

Values and Expectations

• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Proactive and self-motivated
• Strong interpersonal skills
• High learning agility and curiosity to learn and adopt new technologies
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and a focus on quality results
• Self-aware; seeks ways to improve personal and scientific skills

Responsibilities:

• This position requires providing expert assistance in the synthesis of focused compound libraries.
• Establishing and optimizing projects as assigned by the Core Facility Manager to design/synthesize novel compounds.
• The routine performance of all equipment maintenance to assure all equipment used in the core is performing IAW OEM specification and reducing equipment downtime.
• Manage compound inventory, submit compounds in a timely manner for Moffitt drug discovery projects, establish effective collaborative routes with Moffitt PIs/Postdocs.
• Produce written materials using journal standards and ensuring they are publication ready.
• Maintaining chemistry equipment with a team of chemists.

Credentials and Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in chemistry or related field with at least 3 years' experience in synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry, or synthesis of biologically active compounds is required OR  Ph.D. in Chemistry or related field with 1 year of post-doctoral experience in synthetic chemistry, medicinal chemistry or synthesis of biologically active compounds.
• Ph.D. in Organic Synthesis is preferred with 3 years of post doc experience in small molecule synthesis.
• Experience with Synthetic route planning, and reaction problem solving to apply chemical biology and medicinal chemistry projects is essential.
• Outstanding experimental skills, planning, and execution of laboratory work.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing advanced analytical instrumentation with a team of chemists.
• Working knowledge of instrument operation, routine maintenance, troubleshooting, and vendor coordination.
• Ability to manage instrument scheduling, user training, access control, and usage tracking.
• Experience maintaining chemistry labs and associated chemistry equipment.
• Expertise in analysis of compounds using NMR techniques, HPLC-MS, HRMS is essential.
• Experience in Mass Spectroscopy
• Ability to orally present synthetic chemistry/projects to PIs, in group meetings, and departmental meetings is essential.
• Ability to carry out positive interactions with a diverse group of research staff inside and outside the institution.
• Proactive attitude in a service provision, excellent communication and problem solving skills.

Moffitt Team Members are eligible for Medical, Dental, Vision, Paid Time Off, Retirement, Parental Leave and more. Tampa is a thriving metropolitan city, which has become a hub for ground-breaking research, welcoming individuals from around the globe. This diverse city is engulfed with rich culture, year-round activities, amazing cuisine and so much more. We strive for work/life balance.

If you have the vision, passion, and dedication to contribute to our mission,

then we have a place for you.

Contact: 

claudia.lopez-matamoros@moffitt.org