Open Rank of UNMCCC IM Molecular Medicine - Target & Drug Discovery (Cancer Therapeutics) Researcher

The University of New Mexico National Cancer Institute (NCI) Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC), and the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Molecular Medicine, and the Department of Pathology at the UNM School of Medicine, invite applications from established scientists and physician scientists to contribute to and play a leadership role in cancer-focused target and drug discovery efforts by a team of highly collaborative and talented investigators based in the Center’s Cancer Therapeutics Research Program. This program currently enables scientists to discover and validate new cancer targets and biomarkers and to develop new cancer diagnostic, therapeutic, and imaging agents in a developmental therapeutics pipeline by employing: (i) innovative flow cytometric high throughput screening and chemo-informatics platforms to design, discover, validate, and novel and repurposed agents; (ii) innovative methods to discover novel moieties for targeted delivery of imaging and therapeutic agents; (iii) innovative nanotechnology platforms to selectively target and deliver novel agents to normal and cancer cells; and (iv) drug formulation. Novel imaging and therapeutic agents are translated from in vitro model systems and pre-clinical animal models to early phase human trials in the UNMCCC Early Phase Clinical Trials / Experimental Therapeutics Unit. Unique partnerships with the UNM School of Engineering and Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories provide further access to highly advanced nanotechnologies and materials science capabilities, novel radioisotopes for imaging and therapeutics, unique imaging modalities, and advanced computational capabilities. Program members have discovered and developed new therapeutic and imaging agents for cancers of the prostate, ovary, lung, breast, melanoma, and hematologic malignancies. These Tenure track positions are at the Associate or Full Professor level. Successful applicants will have a strong track record of scientific accomplishments in the identification of new cancer targets and/or drug discovery and development exemplified by peer-reviewed (NCI, NIH, or other agencies) or industry funding, high quality publications, and collaborative research. We particularly invite applicants with expertise in state-of-the-art functional screening technologies (CRISPR/CAS or related technologies), applicants with experience in building collaborative research programs, and applicants who would benefit from access to unique centers and programs at the UNMCCC including The Molecular Discovery and High Throughput Target Screening Center (nmmlsc.health.unm.edu); The UNM Chemical Biology Consortium Center, one of 6 national Centers of Excellence in The NCI NExT Program; and The New Mexico Center for the Spatiotemporal Modeling of Cell Signaling (stmc.health.unm.edu), one of 13 NIH-funded National Centers for Systems Biology. The UNMCCC is also a member of the ORIEN National Network of NCI Cancer Centers engaged in precision oncology, data sharing, cancer clinical trials and collaborative research (http://oriencancer.org/). Significant resources, including excellent salaries, comprehensive start-up packages, and endowed professorships and chairs are available, as are UNMCCC leadership roles.

Minimum Qualifications: 1) PhD, MD, MD/PhD, or Pharm D; 2) A track record of sustained research funding including peer-reviewed funding from federal agencies (preferably NCI, NIH, other) or industry; 3) Impactful publications in the scientific areas of interest; and 4) Must be qualified to work in the U.S.

Preferred Qualifications: 1) Expertise in cancer-focused science in the areas of interest; 2) Expertise in discovery and development of targeted cancer therapeutics and imaging agents; 3) Experience in functional screening strategies; 4) Experience in pre-clinical models and translation to clinical trials; 5) Commitment to collaboration with other UNMCCC scientists and participation in team science initiatives and multi-investigator, programmatic cancer-focused grants; 6) Interest in cancer-focused science relevant to the UNMCCC catchment area; and 7) Experience in education, training and mentoring. Successful candidates will have a faculty appointment in a UNM School of Medicine Department and Membership in the UNMCCC.

The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center is the Official Cancer Center of New Mexico and the only National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center in a 500-mile radius. Its 146 board-certified oncology specialty physicians include cancer surgeons in every specialty (abdominal, thoracic, bone and soft tissue, neurosurgery, genitourinary, gynecology, and head and neck cancers), adult and pediatric hematologists/medical oncologists, gynecologic oncologists, and radiation oncologists. They, along with more than 600 other cancer healthcare professionals (nurses, pharmacists, nutritionists, navigators, psychologists and social workers), provide treatment to 65% of New Mexico’s cancer patients from all across the state and partner with community health systems statewide to provide cancer care closer to home. They treated approximately 13,000 patients in more than 100,000 ambulatory clinic visits in addition to in-patient hospitalizations at UNM Hospital. A total of nearly 1300 patients participated in cancer clinical trials, 40% of whom participated in clinical trials testing new cancer treatments that include tests of novel cancer prevention strategies and cancer genome sequencing. The more than 100 cancer research scientists affiliated with the UNMCCC were awarded $36.2 million in federal and private grants and contracts for cancer research projects. Since 2015, they have published nearly 1000 manuscripts, and promoting economic development, they filed 136 new patents and launched 10 new biotechnology start-up companies. Finally, the physicians, scientists and staff have provided education and training experiences to more than 500 high school, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral fellowship students in cancer research and cancer health care delivery. Learn more at http://cancer.unm.edu/.

To apply and view the complete description, please access Req7053 at: https://unmjobs.unm.edu/. Complete applications will include a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and the names of three references with mailing address, phone numbers and email address.  

For all inquiries or questions, please contact:

Search Chairs: Alan Tomkinson, PhD (ATomkinson@salud.unm.edu) or, Search Coordinator: Amanda Leigh Earnest (Aleigh@salud.unm.edu ) at 505-272-2201

This position may be subject to criminal records screening in accordance with New Mexico law.  UNM’s confidential policy (Disclosure of Information about Candidates for Employment, UNM Board of Regents Policy Manual 6.7), which includes information about public disclosure of documents submitted by applicants, is located at https://policy.unm.edu/regents-policies/section-6/6-7.html.

The University of New Mexico is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and Educator.