Principal Investigator

• Principal Investigator (up to 4)
• Grade 8: £44,414 - £52,841, tenure-track
• Grade 9: £56,048 - £63,059, tenured
• Grade Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation
•  Permanent/Full Time

The newly opened Centre for Targeted Protein Degradation (CeTPD), embedded within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee, is being created as a first of its kind Centre with a focus on fundamental and translational chemical biology in the burgeoning new area of targeted protein degradation (TPD) (https://www.dundee.ac.uk/cetpd). The overarching goal of CeTPD is to innovate a next-generation of small-molecule technology platforms and modalities to advance chemical and biological insights and therapeutic targets related to human diseases. It aspires to achieve this by openly collaborate with academic, industrial and venture partners, and by training and inspiring the next generation of research scientists and leaders who will advance our understanding and translation in this crucial area of research. We also have an interest in developing new approaches and tools to advance proximity-based modalities of chemical intervention akin and beyond TPD.

We invite applications for up to 4 Principal Investigator positions at the tenured or tenure-track level, depending on experience and career stage, and welcome applications from researchers representing all minority groups (see below - "Diversity and equality of opportunity"). The successful applicant would receive CeTPD core support as required including consumables, equipment and access to the world class scientific facilities in the School of Life Sciences.

Support and mentorship to competitively apply and secure individual fellowships and grant funding to recruit Postdoctoral Research Assistants and Ph.D. students will be provided to successful applicants recruited at tenure­ track level.

These CeTPD-based positions offer tremendous opportunities to be an integral part of a multidisciplinary group at the forefront of translational chemical biology and drug discovery research and development. You will be innovative, thrive in an intense, intellectually challenging, diverse and dynamic environment, and use your creative problem­ solving skills to support our collaborative team-science and inspiring training-focus culture. There is significant scope for the new Pis and their group members to develop and augment discipline-based activities to support the wider CeTPD group and CeTPD and SLS research community.

The newly established Pl and groups would have full access to the CeTPD's outstanding new research facilities at 1 James Lindsay Place, and service teams including dedicated Biology, Chemistry, Lab Management, Admin and Business Development support staff and facilities, as well as to all facilities in the School of Life Sciences, such as Cryo-Electron Microscopy, X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy, Mass Spectrometry Proteomics, Flow Cytometry and Advanced Imaging.

Who we're looking for

Applicants should have an exciting research programme aimed at building mechanistic foundations and understanding of targeted protein degradation and related induced-proximity modalities of intervention, and maximising impact in challenging areas of biology of relevance to human disease. We are keen to receive applications from candidates with interest and expertise in all subject areas that might complement and enhance the current work of the CeTPD, and a motivation to enhance the current multidisciplinary work of the CeTPD. We are also interested in applicants with expertise and interest in the following research areas and specific topics:

1. Fundamental understanding, at structural and molecular mechanistic level, of how molecular machineries of TPD and induced-proximity modalities works.
2. Discovery chemistry, drug design and chemical biology for targeting challenging proteins involved in human disease.
3. Functional genomics and proteomics approaches to drive molecular understanding, target validation and enablement of biological systems.
4. Enabling chemical, biological, and translational tools to accelerate target validation and pursuit.

Candidate requirements include:

• PhD in a relevant subject
• Proven track record in research and an excellent track record of publications, impact and service
• Significant research programme in the area of targeted protein degradation or induced-proximity research, complementing other research within the CeTPD
• Evidence of ability and willingness to work collaboratively with others
• Ability to write successful grant applications
• Significant knowledge of fundamental and translation chemical and biological research areas.

We are one of the UK's leading universities, internationally recognised for our expertise across a range of disciplines and research breakthroughs in multiple areas, including science, medicine and engineering, amongst many others. Our purpose is to transform lives, locally and globally, which we do as a community of staff (Professional Services and academic Schools), students and alumni. Professional Services directorates are key to delivering the University strategy and driving change across the University.

For further information about this position please contact Professor Alessio Ciulli at a.ciulli@dundee.ac.uk. To find out more about the Centre please visit https://www.dundee.ac.uk/cetpd

Closing date: 5 November 2023.

Applications for this post should be made through the University of Dundee jobs portal. https://www.dundee.ac.uk/work-for-us

The diversity of our staff and students helps to make the University of Dundee a UK university of choice for undergraduate, postgraduate and distance learning. Family friendly policies, staff networks for BME, Disabled and LGBT staff, membership of Athena SWAN, the ECU Race Equality Charter and Stonewall as well a full range of disability services, create an enjoyable and inclusive place to work.