Computational Drug Discovery Lead

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Title: Computational Drug Discovery Lead

Position Overview:

Conscience is a non-profit focused on enabling drug discovery and development in areas where open sharing and collaboration are key to advancement and where market solutions are limited. We are seeking a highly motivated individual with expertise in computer-aided drug design (CADD), computational chemistry, and/or computational biology to spearhead Conscience’s Critical Assessment Program. Currently, the Program offers an open competition platform (Critical Assessment of Computational Hit-finding Experiments or CACHE) on which participants use AI and other advanced computational methods to advance drug discovery through cycles of hit‑finding predictions and experimental testing and validation. Looking to the future, this role will help with the creation of a consortium of benchmarking organizations to promote the incorporation of critical assessment as an essential part of the scientific method and develop a comprehensive and adaptable framework for validating computational predictions on complex and novel biological systems.

Key Responsibilities:

- Assist with the creation of a consortium of organizations involved in the benchmarking and critical assessment of AI and other advanced computational methodologies used in disease research and drug discovery.

- Lead the coordination of consortium activities, including collaborations with international partners to organize and implement challenges and related projects.

- Play a key role in Conscience’s fundraising efforts for the Critical Assessment Program by identifying and fostering relationships with potential funders, developing proposals, and responding to fund applications.

- Work closely with Conscience’s Operations Manager for CACHE to engage with the CACHE participant community and other stakeholders and ensure continued success of the program.

- Contribute to Conscience’s education and awareness efforts about open science drug development and the critical assessment of AI algorithms.

Qualifications:

- Ph.D. (or nearing completion) in computational chemistry, bioinformatics, biomolecular modeling, or a related field is required.

- Expertise in computer‑aided drug design, computational chemistry, or computational biology is required.

- Interest in applying computational expertise in business and entrepreneurial settings is preferred.

- Prior experience in industry and/or international settings is preferred.

- Strong analytical, organizational, and collaborative skills are required.

- Passion for open science, innovation, and accelerating medicine development.

Our team works virtually in a remote environment built around daily Slack, Zoom, collaborative docs, and email, along with occasional in‑person time as needed. Remote work allows for some work hour flexibility, which is helpful when managing life commitments and family. Most roles include some travel as needed.

While we’re legally based in Canada, our approach to drug discovery and science is global. We believe that collaboration can happen in every corner of the world, from the most established leaders to also the most unlikely of partners. With that in mind, we invite candidates from a broad range of backgrounds and experiences, including those from historically marginalized or underestimated groups. A diversity of lived experiences makes our work, and our network community, stronger.

About Conscience:

Conscience is a non‑profit focused on enabling drug discovery and development in areas where open sharing and collaboration are key to advancement and where market solutions are limited, such as rare or infectious diseases. It does so by encouraging teamwork, the open sharing of knowledge and tools, the use of artificial intelligence, and the development of policies that break down barriers of traditional drug development models. Powered by a network that includes academics, industry, technologists, policy experts, and public support, Conscience seeks to drive innovation by turning drug discovery and development into a team sport. Through key initiatives, such as its DMOS (Developing Medicines through Open Science) program and CACHE (Critical Assessment of Computation Hit‑finding Experiments) Challenges, Conscience is accelerating the path to treatments for those who need them most so no patient is left behind. For more information, please visit www.conscience.ca.

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