"CCHS - Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in AI-Driven Drug Discovery Development - Tenure/Tenure Track - 527599"

Position Summary

The University of Alabama's newly established Department of Translational Science and Medicine is seeking a dynamic and innovative faculty member with a passion for revolutionizing medicine. This is a unique opportunity to build a research program at the exciting intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and quantum computing with a focus on drug discovery and development. Appointments to the faculty of The University of Alabama are based on the personnel requirements of the University’s academic programs and on the goal of achieving and maintaining excellence in its teaching, research, and service/academic citizenship activities.

Detailed Position Information

The Department of Translational Science and Medicine is looking for a creative and ambitious scientist to contribute to the department's growth by leveraging cutting-edge computational methods. The ideal candidate will establish a vigorous research program that applies artificial intelligence, machine Learning and quantum computing to challenges in pharmacology, biomaterials, immuno-inflammatory diseases, and neurosciences.
To support this research, the faculty member will have access to the University of Alabama’s state-of-the-art High-Performance Computing (HPC) cluster. This resource provides the computational power necessary for large-scale data analysis, complex simulations, and the development of next-generation artificial intelligence and machine learning models.
The responsibilities will include:
• Developing and teaching courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
• Mentoring students and junior researchers.
• Securing extramural funding to support research.
• Publishing high-impact research.
• Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams across the university and with external partners.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in both fundamental and applied research, with expertise in one or more of the following key areas:

Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning for Drug Discovery: Designing and applying machine learning models to identify new drug targets, predicting drug efficacy and toxicity, and optimizing small molecules and biopharmaceutical design.

Quantum Computing in Pharmacology: Using quantum mechanics and quantum computing to model complex molecular interactions and simulate biological systems with unprecedented accuracy.

Computational Pharmacology: Expertise in Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, Toxicity (ADME-Tox) and Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetics (PBPK) modeling enhanced by AI/ML approaches.

Translational Science: Bridging computational predictions with preclinical or clinical data in areas such as immuno-inflammatory diseases, and/or neurosciences.

Minimum Qualifications

A doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D., or M.D./Ph.D.) in a relevant field such as computer science, computational chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, biomedical engineering, or related disciplines.

Preferred Qualifications

1. A strong record of research achievements, including significant intellectual contributions and a history of securing extramural funding (or a clear potential for success for Assistant Professor candidates).
2. A commitment to teaching excellence and student mentorship, with experience in curriculum development for courses related to your expertise.

Instructions and Required Materials for Application

1) A detailed letter outlining your interest in this position and how your expertise aligns with the department's vision.

2) A comprehensive CV detailing your academic background, research experience, publications, and funding history.

3) A document (max. 3 pages) summarizing your past research achievements, current projects, and future research goals, specifically highlighting the role of AI/ML/QC in drug discovery and development.

4) A statement (max. 1 page) describing your teaching interests and approach.

5) A list of five professional references with their contact information.

For more information, please contact Dr. M. N. V. Ravi Kumar at mnvrkumar@ua.edu.

About the Division/College/School

The College of Community Health Sciences (CCHS) was founded in 1972 by William Willard, MD, author of the “Willard Report” and considered the “Father of Family Medicine,” with a mandate to train family physicians for Alabama, particularly its rural areas. The College also provides medical student education as the Tuscaloosa Regional Campus of the four-campus University of Alabama School of Medicine, based at UAB in Birmingham. The College’s mission focuses on improving the health of individuals and communities in Alabama and the region through leadership in medical education and primary care; the provision of high-quality, accessible health care services; and scholarship.

CCHS is sponsor of the UA Family Medicine Residency and seven fellowships for family physicians. The Residency, a 16-16-16 program now in its 45th year, is the second largest family medicine residency in the country. Of the more than 470 Residency graduates, 85% practice in the five-state area of the Southeast, with half in rural areas, and comprise 1 of 7 family physicians practicing in Alabama. Nearly 900 medical students have completed their clinical training at the College since 1974, entering Family Medicine and primary care careers at more than twice the national average.

The College’s nationally recognized Rural Pipeline Programs and the Institute for Rural Health Research, along with basic sciences, social sciences, and health professional faculty and resources on the UA campus and innumerable specialty and medical research faculty among the School of Medicine faculty, create a uniquely resource-rich environment for a medical educator. The College’s clinical enterprise also conducts 150,000 ambulatory visits and more than 10,000 admissions a year to a broad patient population, including UA faculty and staff and the general population of West Alabama.

For more information about the College, visit http://cchs.ua.edu