Description
Director, Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research (MCDDR) Temple University School of Pharmacy
Temple University School of Pharmacy (TUSP) is seeking a dynamic and visionary leader for the position of Director of the Moulder Center for Drug Discovery Research (MCDDR). This is a full-time, tenure-eligible faculty position at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor, with responsibilities spanning strategic leadership, research development, and collaborative engagement across Temple, including the College of Science and Technology, the Fox Chase Cancer Center, and the Lewis Katz School of Medicine, as well as external partners.
The MCDDR serves as a multidisciplinary research hub supporting early-stage and translational drug discovery. The Center integrates medicinal chemistry, molecular pharmacology, chemical biology, and preclinical development in a seamless pipeline to support faculty-led and collaborative therapeutic discovery programs. Core capabilities include high-throughput screening, ADME profiling, in vitro and in vivo pharmacology, computational drug design, and intellectual property strategy. The MCDDR fosters strategic partnerships with academic, government, and industry partners and plays a central role in faculty development, entrepreneurship, and research infrastructure at TUSP.
The Director will provide scientific and administrative oversight of the Center’s operations and strategic growth. This includes managing a team of scientists and research staff, mentoring early-career investigators, identifying new collaborative and funding opportunities, and enhancing the Center’s visibility nationally and internationally. The Director will report directly to the Dean of the School of Pharmacy and will also work closely with TUSP leadership to align the Center’s goals with institutional priorities and contribute to teaching and academic service as appropriate.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications:
PhD or equivalent degree in medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, pharmaceutical sciences, or a related discipline.
Record of sustained research productivity in drug discovery and/or development as demonstrated by peer-reviewed publications and successful funding.
Leadership experience in an academic, biotech, or pharmaceutical setting, with demonstrated ability to manage interdisciplinary teams and research infrastructure.
Strong understanding of the preclinical drug discovery pipeline, including assay development, compound optimization, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD).
Experience or capacity to mentor junior faculty, postdocs, and graduate students.
Demonstrated ability to initiate and maintain collaborative relationships with external partners (e.g., NIH, pharma/biotech, foundations).
Eligibility for a faculty appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor at Temple University.
Preferred Qualifications:
Experience in translational or therapeutic area-focused research (e.g., cancer, neurodegeneration, metabolic disease).
Knowledge of regulatory, IP, and commercialization frameworks related to drug development.
Track record of team science, technology transfer, or startup formation.
Temple University School of Pharmacy offers a competitive start-up package, a collaborative academic environment, and access to extensive research infrastructure, including the Lewis Katz School of Medicine and Temple University’s Core Facilities.
Applications should include a cover letter, CV, research and leadership statement, and contact information for three references.
Send a letter of interest and a curriculum vitae to salim.merali@temple.edu
Questions:
For questions or additional information regarding this position, contact the search committee chair: Dr. Salim Merali at (215) 707-9228
Temple University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with applicable EEO and Affirmative Action
