Postdoctoral Research Associate
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
About the Role
A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the lab of Scott Blanchard. The Blanchard laboratory in the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral student with experience in molecular biology, biochemistry (preferably of membrane proteins), and quantitative biophysical and/or computational approaches to examine the molecular basis of GPCR signaling fidelity at single-molecule scale. This role is intended to accelerate a next-generation GPCR-targeting drug discovery program.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the experimental design, execution, and data analysis of biophysical studies characterizing GPCR structural dynamics with in vivo downstream signaling response.
- Engineer and isolate high-quality, homogeneous samples of GPCRs and signaling partners for ensemble and single-molecule analytical assays.
- Expand technical skillset through expert-led training in smFRET imaging to perform experiments, analyze complex datasets, and develop quantitative models to explain GPCR signaling mechanisms.
- Work independently, leading a project from hypothesis to high-quality oral presentations and publications.
- Collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of researchers as part of a multi-institutional collaborative, including presentations to a broad audience.
- Train and mentor graduate students, postdocs, and visiting scientists.
- Instruct other staff in basic laboratory techniques and procedures.
Requirements & Tech Stack
- PhD in life science or other physical science.
- 0-3 years of Post-PhD experience.
- Experience in molecular biology, biochemistry, and quantitative biophysical and/or computational approaches.
- Ability to propose new hypotheses based on available literature, and design experiments and analyze data with minimum supervision.
- Expert ability to distill, convey, and present complex information clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
- Passion to learn and navigate new research fields.
Qualifications
- Prior experience in GPCR signaling studies and/or single-molecule fluorescence analyses is highly preferred.
- Direct experience with isolation and functional characterization of GPCRs and their signaling partners (G-proteins, arrestins, GPCR kinases, etc.) is strongly preferred.