A postdoctoral position is available at the University of Sao Paulo (USP), Center for Research and Innovation in Biodiversity and Drug Discovery (CIBFar), one of the “Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers” (CEPIDs) supported by FAPESP (The São Paulo Research Foundation), to join a multidisciplinary project focused on discovery and optimization of new chemical entities for the treatment of Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. The registration period ends on August 25, 2017.
The researcher will join the team of investigators in Medicinal Chemistry and Drug Design at CIBFar, and will be responsible for (1) the conduction of primary parasitology assays (initial in vitro phenotypic screening cascade versus Trypanosoma and Leishmania), and (2) implementation and in house validation of secondary parasitology assays (e.g. strains panel, different parasite stages, modes of action, antiparasitic activity kinetics, assays comparability, and others). The activities will comprise a key portion of a multidisciplinary consortium focused on the identification and development of drug candidates via collaborative medicinal chemistry strategy.
Compounds will be obtained regularly via national and international partnerships, in particular with the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), within the Lead Optimization Latin America Consortium (LOLA). Founded in 2003, DNDi is a patient-needs driven, not-for-profit research and development (R&D) organization that develops safe, effective, and affordable treatments for the millions of people across the world affected by neglected diseases, notably human African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, filariasis, paediatric HIV, mycetoma, and hepatitis C (http://www.dndi.org).
Candidates must have obtained their PhD degree within the last 7 (seven) years, and have expertise in in vitro screening and and kinetoplastids biology.
Direct experience in conducting in vitro assays with kinetoplastids is mandatory. Fluency in English and ability to work within interdisciplinary teams are also mandatory. Experience with T. cruzi and Leishmania sp. intracellular parasitic assays and/or development of mechanistic assays will be considered an extra.
Applications can be submitted only by e-mail. Those interested should send curriculum vitae and letter of interest, accompanied by two (2) letters of recommendation, to both Professor Adriano D. Andricopulo (aandrico@ifsc.usp.br), CIBFar Principal Investigator; and Dr. Jadel Kratz, DNDi LOLA Coordinator (jkratz@dndi.org).
The Postdoctoral FAPESP Fellowship grant a monthly amount of R$ 6.819,30 (Brazilian Real), plus research contingence funds, equivalent to 15% of the annual amount of the scholarship, which is intended for use in developed activities strictly related to the research project, during its valid period. Candidates who need to move to São Carlos – SP – Brazil, with displacement distance above 350 km (three hundred and fifty kilometers), may request the benefit of aid installation, consisting of an additional monthly fee and transport costs. This benefit must be approved by FAPESP.
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