The Sun lab are seeking a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellow to join their group in the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The project focuses on structure-based drug discovery projects in the lab. This is an exceptional opportunity to work at the forefront of structural biology and drug discovery in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to state-of-the-art cryo-EM facilities.
The role:
· Independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments in structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology
· Perform protein complex expression/purification (mammalian and insect systems), cryo-EM sample preparation, data collection, and high-resolution structure determination to understand the working mechanism of small molecules
· Conduct functional assays in mammalian cells and animal models to study pharmacology of novel small molecules
· Rapidly learn and integrate new techniques as the project evolves
· Maintain detailed records, analyze data, prepare manuscripts, and present results at lab meetings and scientific conferences
· Work collaboratively with team members and external collaborators while taking ownership of sub-projects
Applicant Requirements:
· Ph.D. in biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, pharmacology, chemical biology or a closely related field
· Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
· Strong publication record with at least one first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal
Preferred Qualifications:
· Prior hands-on experience with single-particle cryo-EM (sample prep, data processing, model building) is a plus
· Expertise in protein expression/purification
· Background in chemical biology will be a plus
· Excellent written and oral communication skills
· Enthusiasm for mentoring junior lab members and contributing to a positive, supportive lab culture
Find out more here.
