Scientist I - Viral Diseases Program

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Scientist I to support multidisciplinary research programs focused on the discovery and development of novel therapeutics against high-priority infectious diseases. The position requires specialized expertise at the interface of computational drug discovery, structural biology, and experimental infectious-disease research.

This position will be in support of the Integrated Pathogen Therapeutics Department within the Viral Diseases Program at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), Silver Spring, MD. In this role, the Scientist will develop and apply computational approaches to identify, characterize, and prioritize therapeutic targets and small-molecule candidates. Approaches will include molecular docking, virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulations, protein-ligand and protein-protein interaction modeling, and structure-based drug design. The Scientist will integrate computational predictions with experimental virology, parasitology, medicinal chemistry, and pharmacological data to support target validation, hit identification, structure-activity relationship studies, and lead optimization. Additionally, the Scientist will work as part of a multidisciplinary team and collaborate closely with computational scientists, biologists, medicinal chemists, and pharmacologists to translate computational findings into experimentally testable hypotheses and advance therapeutic candidates through preclinical discovery.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike.Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Design and execute computational drug-discovery workflows using structure-based and ligand-based approaches, including: molecular docking, virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulations, and protein-ligand interaction analysis.
• Apply physics-based, machine-learning, and other computational approaches to therapeutic target characterization, compound screening, and hit prioritization.
• Perform structural modeling and analysis of proteins and protein complexes to characterize small-molecule binding sites, molecular interactions, and protein-protein interactions relevant to pathogen biology and host-pathogen interactions.
• Conduct computational screening and prioritization of compound libraries and chemical series to support identification and optimization of therapeutic candidates.
• Apply free-energy and related computational methods to characterize compound binding and support structure-guided compound optimization.
• Conduct and/or support cell-based, biochemical, and phenotypic assays for infectious-disease drug discovery, including antiviral and antiparasitic screening.
• Produce, coordinate, and maintain parasite and viral cultures or infected mosquitoes for use in the in vitro assays.
• Integrate computational predictions with biological activity, cytotoxicity, biochemical, phenotypic screening, structure-activity relationship, and ADME/PK data.
• Develop experimentally testable hypotheses based on computational findings and work with laboratory scientists to design appropriate validation studies.
• Analyze and interpret complex computational and experimental datasets and develop reproducible workflows for data analysis, visualization, documentation, and reporting.
• Collaborate with medicinal chemists to support structure-guided compound design, synthesis prioritization, and iterative lead optimization.
• Contribute to studies characterizing pathogen targets and host-pathogen interactions relevant to therapeutic development.
• Prepare technical reports, scientific presentations, manuscripts, protocols, and research proposals.
• Communicate research findings to internal and external collaborators and contribute to peer-reviewed scientific publications, reports, and presentations.
• Maintain knowledge of emerging computational, structural, and experimental approaches applicable to infectious-disease therapeutic discovery.
• Participate in planning project tasks, milestones, deliverables and resource allocation.
• Make detailed observations, document results, perform data analysis, and data management/curation using internal LIMS system.
• Ensure achievement of the project goals in a timely manner and within budget.
• Maintain a safe workplace ensuring that he/she is aware of and observes appropriate safety and occupational health rules and regulations. Employee is required to attend safety training relative to his/ her position and report any infractions of safety procedures to the facility Safety Officer.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor. This may include attendance of and participation in required training for role.

Education and Experience

• Doctorate Degree in computational biology, computational chemistry, structural biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, parasitology, pharmaceutical sciences, bioinformatics, or a closely related biomedical discipline required.
• Minimum of 2-5 years experience required.
• Postdoctoral or equivalent research experience in infectious-disease and/or therapeutic drug discovery demonstrating application of computational methods for small-molecule drug discovery.
• Experience with molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, virtual screening, and structure-based drug-design approaches.
• Experience with computational modeling and analysis of protein-ligand and/or protein-protein interactions.
• Experience integrating computational predictions with experimental biological, biochemical, or pharmacological data.
• Experience with cell-based, biochemical, or phenotypic approaches applicable to infectious-disease drug discovery.
• Experience analyzing compound activity and structure-activity relationships to support therapeutic candidate prioritization or optimization.
• Demonstrated scientific productivity through peer-reviewed publications, presentations, or equivalent scientific contributions.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of computational drug-discovery and structure-based drug-design principles.
• Advanced knowledge of microbial infections.
• Knowledge of molecular docking, molecular dynamics, virtual screening, and molecular interaction analysis.
• Knowledge of infectious-disease biology and principles of small-molecule therapeutic discovery.
• Ability to integrate computational and experimental datasets to support scientific decision-making.
• Ability to develop and implement reproducible computational workflows.
• Ability to critically analyze scientific data and independently troubleshoot complex research problems.
• Ability to communicate complex computational and biological findings to multidisciplinary scientific audiences.
• Strong scientific writing, presentation, organizational, and collaborative skills.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary research programs.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary research teams.
• This position requires that you obtain and maintain a T1/Public Trust background check.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in a laboratory setting at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, MD.

Compensation

• The salary range for this position is $77,600-$100,000. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.