Associate Scientist/Scientist - Wet Lab Research, Influenza Virology - Kosinski Lab

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital • Memphis, TN

4d • $65,520 - $154,960

About The Position

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is seeking a highly motivated Associate Scientist or Scientist to serve as the scientific and operational leader of the wet-lab program in Dr. Jan Kosinski's newly established laboratory. The role will help launch and build the research operation, combining hands-on influenza and cell biology research with laboratory leadership, infrastructure development, and mentorship. The laboratory is scheduled to open at St. Jude in January 2027 as part of Dr. Kosinski's relocation from EMBL Hamburg.

The Kosinski Laboratory investigates the influenza A virus infection cycle within cells and develops approaches for in-cell structural biology. Its research integrates cryo-electron tomography, crosslinking mass spectrometry, cell biology, and computational approaches to study host-pathogen interactions. The successful candidate will help establish laboratory infrastructure, oversee virology and cell culture operations, mentor trainees, and develop an independent research program focused on influenza biology and advanced cellular model systems.

The position is posted at both Associate Scientist and Scientist levels. Final level determination will depend on the selected candidate's qualifications, experience, and assessment during hiring. All influenza research performed in the laboratory is conducted at BSL-2 containment; high-containment and animal studies are conducted through collaborations with the St. Jude Center of Excellence for Influenza Research and Response. The role offers the opportunity to shape laboratory design and operations, pursue research and publications, and collaborate with St. Jude's structural biology, imaging, influenza, and computational biology researchers. The work is described as approximately equally emphasizing laboratory leadership and independent research.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific area, such as cell biology, virology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field.
• For the Scientist level: eight years of relevant work experience; six years with a master's degree; or three years with a PhD.
• For the Associate Scientist level: seven or more years of research experience; five or more years with a master's degree; or two or more years with a PhD.

Nice To Haves

• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree.
• Mammalian cell culture expertise, including primary cell culture systems.
• Influenza virology expertise, including virus propagation, viral infections, plaque assays, TCID50 assays, and viral stock quality control.
• Experience with BSL-2 laboratory operations and biosafety practices.
• Molecular biology expertise, including cloning, transfection, CRISPR-based genome engineering, and stable cell line generation.
• Protein biochemistry experience, including immunoprecipitation and western blotting.
• Fluorescence microscopy and confocal imaging experience.
• Experience with laboratory documentation, inventory management, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience with influenza reverse genetics and recombinant virus generation.
• Experience with organoid, air-liquid interface, or other tissue-derived model systems.
• Experience establishing or expanding laboratory operations.
• Electronic laboratory notebook administration or laboratory information management systems experience.
• Sample preparation for electron microscopy or mass spectrometry.
• Proteomics workflows and crosslinking mass spectrometry experience.
• Experience training, mentoring, and supervising scientific staff and students.
• Tissue handling associated with animal-based studies.
• Scientific leadership and accountability, strong project ownership and execution, laboratory operations and process development, collaboration and mentorship, excellent communication and organizational skills, and the ability to balance research with laboratory management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the laboratory's cell culture and influenza virology operations.
• Maintain mammalian cell lines and primary cell cultures.
• Produce, titrate, validate, and maintain influenza virus stocks.
• Generate recombinant and tagged influenza viruses using reverse genetics approaches.
• Develop stable and CRISPR-engineered cell lines to support research programs.
• Perform molecular biology and biochemical techniques, including cloning, transfections, immunoprecipitations, and western blotting.
• Conduct fluorescence and confocal microscopy experiments.
• Analyze experimental data and maintain high-quality research documentation.
• Contribute to manuscripts, presentations, grant applications, and scientific publications.
• Present findings within the laboratory, at institutional seminars, and at scientific conferences.
• Lead setup of the new laboratory, including equipment procurement, installation, and commissioning.
• Manage inventories, consumables, reagent stocks, and laboratory resources.
• Oversee service contracts and equipment maintenance activities.
• Ensure compliance with BSL-2 laboratory operations and institutional safety requirements.
• Manage SOP development, biosafety documentation, EH&S compliance, and training records.
• Maintain laboratory electronic notebooks, protocol repositories, and data management systems.
• Train, onboard, and mentor laboratory personnel in experimental procedures and best practices.
• Provide supervision and scientific guidance to junior staff and trainees as the laboratory grows.

Benefits

• Access to St. Jude's structural biology and imaging resources, including the Cryo-EM/ET Center, three Titan Krios microscopes, Plasma-FIB, and Aquilos instrumentation.
• Access to advanced core facilities and shared research infrastructure.
• Opportunities for first-author publications and collaborative scientific contributions.
• Opportunity to influence laboratory design, infrastructure, and operational strategy.
• Significant autonomy and visibility within a growing research program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level