Description

Tenure-leading Faculty Position in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center
The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) seeks outstanding applicants for a tenure-leading, twelve-month faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor or Associate Professor. We seek an innovative and collaborative scientist whose research integrates computational approaches to advance any area of the drug discovery process such as medicinal chemistry and chemical biology.

Position Overview
We are seeking candidates who will develop and apply computational approaches to understand, design, and optimize bioactive molecules and chemical probes. Applicants should have demonstrated productivity within their area of expertise and the potential to build a nationally recognized, externally funded research program and contribute to interdisciplinary teaching and training programs in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery.
Candidates must have strong expertise in at least one of the following areas:
Use of Artificial intelligence for De-Novo molecular design
Machine learning/Neuronal networks to develop novel drug discovery tools
Molecular modeling and simulation
Theoretical biophysical medicinal chemistry
Deep learning-based approaches to advanced molecular design
Network Pharmacology
Quantum computing
Hybrid In Silico/In Vitro Pipelines
Work at the interface of medicinal chemistry and computational approaches
 

Responsibilities
Establish and maintain an externally funded, high-impact research program
Develop innovative computational and/or hybrid computational–experimental drug discovery methods
Teach undergraduate, graduate and professional courses in medicinal chemistry and related areas and develop undergraduate, graduate, and/or professional courses in their area of research expertise.
Mentor graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and professional trainees
Contribute to interdisciplinary research and training initiatives
Participate in departmental and institutional service

Application requirements
A cover letter describing interest for the position
Current curriculum vitae including a complete list of publications
Concise four-page description of research plans
One-page teaching philosophy
The applicant must provide the names and contact information of at least three references
The documents containing the research plans, teaching philosophy, and references should be uploaded as an “other document”.
Applications must be submitted online at: jobs@unmc.edu. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. For full consideration, applications should be received by July 15, 2026. Applications will be received and considered until the position is filled. Expected start date is Spring 2027. Relevant inquiries may be directed to the Chair of the Search Committee, Martin Conda Sheridan, at martin.condasheridan@unmc.edu.

The Environment

The Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of two College of Pharmacy departments. The faculty of 20 members is currently training 80 graduate students in a broad area of pharmaceutical sciences that includes: drug discovery and development, medicinal chemistry, drug delivery, nanomedicine, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenomics, and pharmaceutical biophysics. The Pharmaceutical Sciences Department is home to the Center for Drug Design and Innovation (CDDI) and the Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine (CDDN). The College of Pharmacy is ranked in the top 10 in NIH funding per faculty member among US Schools of Pharmacy. UNMC is ranked among the top 75 universities globally in pharmacy according to the Academic Rankings of World Universities. The UNMC College of Pharmacy in collaboration with the College of Medicine has an NIH T32 grant supporting training programs in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia drug discovery, and Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, respectively. Applicants will also have access to the Holland Computing Center (HCC), which provides invaluable resources for in silico and theoretical studies. This environment creates exciting opportunities for the successful candidate to establish research collaborations within the College of Pharmacy as well as the greater UNMC research community. Please visit the UNMC COP website for additional information https://www.unmc.edu/pharmacy/.

UNMC is in Omaha, the largest city in Nebraska. Today, Omaha and its surrounding municipalities host a population of over 900,000. The people of Omaha enjoy diverse opportunities for cultural, outdoor, and sporting activities. These include numerous museums (art, history, aerospace), collegiate and minor league sporting events, an exceptional interconnected park system, and a family-friendly entertainment district in the Historic Old Market located in downtown Omaha, which includes the newly renovated Omaha Riverfront. Omaha has a diverse and thriving economy that has retained its core in agricultural products but expanded to include banking, insurance, telecommunications, biotechnology, and other high-technology industries.

Requirements

Required Qualifications
PhD in Medicinal Chemistry, Computational Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemistry, or a closely related field
Postdoctoral training or equivalent
Evidence of securing external funding
Strong publication record in peer-reviewed journals

Preferred Qualifications
Experience applying AI/ML methods to molecular or drug discovery problems
Expertise in molecular modeling, cheminformatics, or simulation
Experience with generative or predictive molecular design methods
Integration of computational and experimental medicinal chemistry
Collaborative and interdisciplinary research experience
Teaching experience in medicinal chemistry or computational chemistry related to drug discovery