Science Director Research Jobs in Arizona (NOW HIRING)

Researcher/Scientist V
Posting Number
req26766
Department
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Department Website Link
https://www.pharmacy.arizona.edu/departments-directory/pharmacology-toxicology-department
Location
Tucson Campus
Address
Tucson, AZ USA
Position Highlights
The High Throughput Biology Core at the University of Arizona is seeking a highly motivated, creative, and collaborative Researcher/Scientist V to join a rapidly growing translational drug discovery environment. In partnership with the Arizona Center for Drug Discovery, the University of Arizona Cancer Center, and other stakeholders across the university, the successful candidate will contribute to innovative drug discovery programs in various areas, including neuroscience, metabolic disease, and spanning cutting-edge bioassay design and chemical biology. Passionate, intellectually curious scientists with a strong desire to continuously learn and expand into new biological systems, technologies, and therapeutic areas are encouraged to apply. This position offers the opportunity to work across a varying portfolio of targets, assay modalities, and therapeutic areas in a highly interdisciplinary environment bridging academic innovation with industry-standard drug discovery. The candidate will play a central role in assay development, cellular engineering, high-throughput screening, hit validation, and translational biology workflows supporting projects across multiple colleges, centers, and external collaborations.
Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more!
The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here.
Duties & Responsibilities
Cell Biology & Cellular Engineering

• Perform complex experimental research using a diverse portfolio of targets, assay modalities and therapeutic areas to help further the advancement and discovery of new drugs.
• Design, test and implement new procedures to optimize cell-based assays. Focus primarily on cellular constructs such as luc, nanoluc, BRET, nanoBRET, HiBiT, HaloTag.

Assay Development & High-Throughput Screening

• Conduct complex miniaturization and scaling of multiple assay formats. Analyze and validate multi-well assays for HTS.

Research Administration and Management

• Act as the lead and primary contact working closely with ACDD and UACC leadership (i) to establish timelines and milestones (ii) to provide out-facing announcements to faculty, including funding opportunities and (iii) to prepare reports and project updates in a timely fashion (iv) establish metrics of success (goals and objectives).
• Partner with ORP and UACC centers and cores; for example GEMMS Core collaboration involving clients to establish cell-based assays.
• Consult with research teams and PIs at project initiation.
• Take primary responsibility for writing and supporting collaborative grant applications and components

External and Internal Communication

• Present at seminars and workshops about the technical and strategic aspects of the field at the University, cognate institutions in southern Arizona, and be a representative at national meetings and conferences.
• Speak and explain on the acceptance of new concepts, practices, and approaches in the field of drug discovery and development, particularly the importance of and approaches towards commercialization of university intellectual property.
• Conduct briefings to senior leaders and act as a subject matter expert (SME) on strategic research matters.
• Represent the organization externally as a thought leader in the professional discipline of academic drug discovery and development performed to industry standards.

Automation & Screening Operations

• Co-direct the automation of assays and cherry picking in collaboration with the Functional Genomics Core on automation and library selection/curation.
• Utilize 96 and 384-well plate formats with automated liquid systems and compound dispensing technologies (Pintooling and Echo Acoustic dispensing).
• Use high-content imaging platforms and advanced assay analysis software (CDD Vault, Prism, JMP or Genedata) to analyze and interpret complex data sets to help validate and establish HCS approaches to put in reports.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge with multiple assay technologies including: TR-FRET, HTRF, AlphaLisa, enzyme activity assays, luminescence-based assays, proximity-based assay platforms.
• Knowledge of high-content imaging platforms and associated image analysis software.
• Knowledge of cellular reporters, antibody staining, multiplexed imaging assays, phenotypic screening, and/or cell-painting approaches preferred.
• Knowledge of screening and assay analysis software such as CDD Vault, Prism, JMP, Genedata, or related platforms desirable.
• Ability to manage multiple parallel projects in a dynamic and fast-paced discovery environment.
• Collaborative and team-oriented with strong communication and organizational skills.
• Ability to independently drive projects forward while contributing effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Extensive hands-on skills in culturing and maintaining multiple mammalian cell lines across diverse tissue types.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.
Minimum Qualifications

• Doctoral degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Biology, Pharmacology or related field or equivalent terminal degree in a related discipline required.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in drug discovery, translational research, or screening core environments.
• Experience with small molecule screening libraries, hit-to-lead workflows, or medicinal chemistry support activities.
• Experience with target validation strategies and translational biomarker development.
• Experience integrating biological, pharmacological, and imaging datasets to support project progression.

FLSA
Exempt
Full Time/Part Time
Full Time
Number of Hours Worked per Week
40
Job FTE
1.0
Work Calendar
Fiscal
Job Category
Research
Benefits Eligible
Yes - Full Benefits
Rate of Pay
$86,870 - $112,932
Compensation Type
salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE)
Grade
11
Compensation Guidance
The Rate of Pay Field represents the University of Arizona's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. The University considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, and internal equity.
The Grade Range represent a full range of career compensation growth over time. The university offers compensation growth opportunities within its career architecture. To learn more about compensation, please review our Applicant Compensation Guide and our Total Rewards Calculator.
Career Stream and Level
PC5
Job Family
Researchers & Scientists
Job Function
Research
Type of criminal background check required:
Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive)
Number of Vacancies
1
Target Hire Date
Expected End Date
Contact Information for Candidates
Greg Thatcher GThatcher@pharmacy.arizona.edu
Open Date
8/12/2026
Open Until Filled
Yes
Documents Needed to Apply
Resume and Cover Letter
Special Instructions to Applicant
Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report
In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University's campuses.Thesereports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures.
Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at cleryact@arizona.edu.