Assistant Professor in the Penn Center for Translational Chemical Biology (CTCB) in partnership with the Department of Cancer Biology

Penn Center for Translational Chemical Biology (CTCB) and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seeks candidates for an Assistant Professor position in the tenure track. Expertise is required in the specific area of chemical biology relevant to cancer including the development of new chemical probes and imaging tools, use of innovative chemistries for difficult drug targets, use of AI strategies for probe and drug development, synthetic biology with chemical underpinnings, development of protein- and RNA-based therapies, use of mass spectrometry technologies to identify new drug targets, and therapeutic strategies based on structural and mechanistic insights are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have a Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degree.

Penn Center for Translational Chemical Biology (CTCB) partners closely with the Department of Cancer Biology, which enables the expansion of the mission to include exploiting expertise in chemical biology to understand the basis of cancer at its most fundamental level, with the goal of making fundamental discoveries to transform lives through cancer research.

Teaching responsibilities may include focused classroom teaching in an existing area of expertise as well as mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and other research trainees. Successful candidates are expected to exhibit a strong commitment to the graduate and medical education missions of the Perelman School of Medicine.

Research or scholarship responsibilities may include establishment and maintenance of an externally funded, independent research program that leads to impactful publications focused on the development and utilization of chemical biology approaches in cancer biology.

CTCB and the Department of Cancer Biology value a supportive, cohesive, service oriented, and collaborative culture. Growth of junior faculty is fostered by providing tailored mentoring and faculty development from appointment through tenure and all major career milestones.

The faculty appointment will be in the Department of Cancer Biology, or an appropriate department in the Perelman School of Medicine that is consistent with the scientific expertise of the successful candidate.

To ensure full consideration, applicants are encouraged to apply by November 1, 2024.

Applicants will be evaluated on a rolling basis, and we will prioritize applicants submitted prior to November 1, 2024 based on the following required documents:

1. Cover letter (Highlight past and proposed research and its synergies with Penn CTCB, Cancer Biology, and the University, 1 page maximum)

2. Curriculum vitae (Highlight 3 to 5 impactful publications using several sentences to provide context about the specific advances for the field and the candidate’s role in these studies)

3. Anonymized statement of significant research contributions and plans for an independent research program. This document should briefly describe past research accomplishments -research questions, an applicant’s intellectual contributions, the research findings and significance and future research plan as well as opportunities for integration and collaboration with Penn CTCB, Cancer Biology, and the University. The plan can refer to the applicant’s experiences and qualifications but should not include the names of any researchers who performed the work, institutions where the work was done, specific publications or journals, or funding organizations (remove names from the header also).

Example text:

Traditional, non-anonymized: “As a [Named Fellowship] postdoc in Professor X’s lab at University of Z, I designed and optimized an assay that can [do something amazing]. I used this to discover [important finding].

Anonymized: “As a postdoc I designed and optimized a new assay that can [do something amazing]. I used this to discover [important finding].

In the bibliography, citations to the applicant’s own work must also be anonymized to remove all journal, publication title, and author names. For example, “Applicant author # of total author # (Year of Publication).” (3 page maximum not including bibliography)

4. Anonymized statement of contributions and commitment to the advancement of collaborative research, mentoring, teaching, and inclusion in science. We seek candidates with a demonstrated track record of and/or plans for creating a collaborative and inclusive research, mentoring, and teaching environment. This document should briefly describe candidate’s prior or future actions towards research collaborations, teaching and mentoring of trainees in the lab and classroom, service to the scientific and/or broader community, and improvement of inclusion in science for under resourced and underrepresented individuals. (1 page maximum)

5. Reference Letters (3 minimum)

Please address to Search Committee, Department of Cancer Biology/Center for Translational Chemical Biology.

We seek candidates who embrace and reflect diversity in the broadest sense. The University of Pennsylvania is an EOE. Minorities/women/individuals with disabilities/protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks talented students, faculty and staff with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any other legally protected class. Questions or concerns about this should be directed to the Executive Director of the Office of Affirmative Action (http://www.upenn.edu/affirm-action/) and Equal Opportunity Programs, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6205; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice) or (215) 898-7803 (TDD).