Company Overview

At Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK), we're not only changing the way we treat cancer, but also the way the world thinks about it. By working together and pushing forward with innovation and discovery, we're driving excellence and improving outcomes. We're treating cancer, one patient at a time. Join us and make a difference every day.

In compliance with applicable New York and New Jersey State regulatory authorities, COVID-19 vaccination (2 doses of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) is mandatory for all MSK employees, contingent workers, and volunteers. Exceptions are permitted for those employees who request and receive an approved medical or fully remote exemption.

*Staff working at a MSK New Jersey location must be up to date with COVID-19 vaccination, which includes having completed the primary COVID-19 vaccination series and booster once eligible as mandated by New Jersey State. All New Jersey staff not yet eligible for a booster must receive a booster within 3 weeks of becoming eligible as a condition of continued employment at MSK.

Note: Individuals are eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster five months after receiving the second dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine or two months after the J&J vaccine.

Job Description

Are you a synthetic chemist, polymer chemist, protein or biochemist? Are you interested in cancer biology and drug design? Then apply to our lab to work on cancer drug design, protein engineering, and cancer proteomics.

We are a group of physicians and scientists in the Molecular Pharmacology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute and Department of Pediatrics and the Tow Center for Developmental Oncology at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

We leverage proteomics to develop improved biologic therapies, computational modeling to define oncogenic mechanisms, and innovative mouse models to determine biological functions and guide clinical trials of improved treatments, particularly for children with refractory cancers.

We are developing functional mass spectrometry proteomics methods to define oncogenic signaling, and develop new macromolecular cancer drugs. In particular, we have been using peptide barcoding to construct libraries of cell-penetrant peptidomimetic inhibitors of oncogenic proteins. Recently, we used this approach to successfully develop the first effective inhibitor of MYB, an essential oncoprotein in the majority of blood cancers, as recently published in Nature Communications 2018 and Elife 2021. Current efforts are focused on applying this technology for protein engineering and development of new peptide conjugates for cancer and gene therapy.

An ideal candidate is a PhD graduate with experience in analytical chemistry or protein engineering, who is interested in developing an independent research programme for future faculty or scientist positions in biotechnology and drug design.

We value diversity in ideas and people, and our group seeks excellence and equity in scientific discourse and scientific practice. Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center is a vibrant academic community, part of the Tri-Institutional campus with Rockefeller University and Weill Cornell Medical College, located in the middle of Manhattan in New York City. We offer a unique and unparalleled research environment in cancer biology and oncology with diverse basic and applied science programs, which are directly integrated with clinical care, enabling rapid translation of improved therapies for patients.

Please send a detailed cover letter describing your past research and interests and current CV to Alex Kentsis, MD, PhD at kentsisresearchgroup+application@gmail.com.

Closing

Memorial Sloan Kettering is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to diversity and inclusion in all aspects of recruiting and employment. All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration without regard to race, color, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran status or any other factor which cannot lawfully be used as a basis for an employment decision.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job or to perform your job. Examples of reasonable accommodation include making a change to the application process or work procedures, providing documents in an alternate format, using a sign language interpreter, or using specialized equipment.