Postdoctoral Research Associate - Structural Biology (Blanchard Lab)

The ideal candidate would be a recent PhD graduate with a demonstrated capability to propose new hypotheses based on scientific literature, design experiments, and interpret results in a mechanistic framework. Our highly interdisciplinary, collaborative, mission-driven environment requires a creative, team-oriented individual, who will ensure high-quality operations and share our vision to successfully pursue impactful scientific advances.

Successful candidates should have demonstrated competencies in the following areas:

• Capability to express, purify, and biochemically characterize membrane proteins in mammalian and/or insect cell culture.

• Prior experience with single-molecule biophysical techniques, GPCR biology, or quantitative modeling.

• Significant contribution towards peer-reviewed research articles in related scientific subject(s).

• Excellent communication and presentation skills and ability to prepare high-quality manuscripts of findings for publication.

Selected Publications:

• GPCR-mediated -arrestin activation deconvoluted with single-molecule precision.

• Single-molecule analysis of ligand efficacy in 2AR-G-protein activation.

• Single-molecule FRET imaging of GPCR dimers in living cells

• Quantifying secondary transport at single-molecule resolution

• CFTR function, pathology and pharmacology at single-molecule resolution

Responsibilities:

• Design and perform biochemical and biophysical experiments to investigate structure-dynamics-function relationships of various integral membrane proteins or membrane-associated proteins involved in GPCR-mediated signaling pathways.

• Protein purification, site-specific fluorophore labeling, and biochemical/functional characterization of GPCRs, G-proteins, arrestins, and other signaling proteins.

• Perform single-molecule fluorescence (smFRET) imaging of labeled signaling molecules with guidance and training from technical experts in the field, analyze smFRET data, and interpret the results in mechanistic, quantitative frameworks with guidance and training from technical experts in the field.

• 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 of graduate students, post-docs and visiting scientists.
  Instructs other staff in basic laboratory techniques and procedures.

Minimum Education:

• Ph.D. in life sciences or other physical sciences required.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has a diverse, global patient population and workforce, built on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our founder Danny Thomas envisioned a hospital that would treat children of the world-regardless of race, religion or a family's ability to pay. Learn more about our history and commitment.

Today, we continue the mission to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. As we accelerate this progress globally, we believe our legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion is foundational to success. With the commitment of leaders at all levels of the organization, we strive to ensure the St. Jude culture, leadership approaches and talent processes are equitable and culturally responsive. View our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report to learn about the hospital's roots in diversity, equity and inclusion, where we are today and our aspirations for an even better future.

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