Postdoctoral Researcher - Contraceptive Drug Discovery

This project aims to unlock a new frontier in contraception by discovering, validating, and chemically modulating under-explored protein targets for next-generation strategies. Postdoctoral Researchers will advance novel human protein targets with sperm-specific expression through the drug discovery pipeline from hit to chemical probe. Targets link to male fertility as putative non-hormonal contraceptive drug targets.

Perform protein expression and purification, biochemical and biophysical characterization, and high-resolution structure determination using X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM to reveal target structure, mechanism, and function. Play a central role in assessing target ligandability and developing screening strategies including high-throughput approaches like E-ASMS and DEL-ML.

Embedded in an early-stage drug discovery team within the Mitacs Accelerate Umbrella – Target 2035 Fellows program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre. Work closely with medicinal chemists, machine learning scientists, automation and software engineers, biochemists, and cell biologists. Contribute to data-driven efforts alongside academic, industry, and technology partners.

In partnership with medicinal chemists, drive hit validation, structure-activity relationship (SAR) development, and early compound optimization using integrated structural and functional insights. Positioned in UHN, Canada's top research hospital with the largest hospital-based research program. Part of a multidisciplinary team advancing biomedical research in oncology and beyond.