Associate Scientist/ Scientist: Kosinski's Lab

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

1d•$65,520 - $154,960•Onsite

About The Position

The World's Brightest Minds Always Innovate. At St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, we believe extraordinary discoveries happen when exceptional scientists are empowered with exceptional resources. That's why we provide world-class facilities, cutting-edge technologies, collaborative expertise, and an environment where research rapidly translates from bench to bedside. At St. Jude, your work has a direct impact on improving and saving the lives of children around the world. We encourage bold ideas, scientific curiosity, and a relentless commitment to advancing discoveries that matter. We are seeking a highly motivated Associate Scientist or Scientist to join the newly established laboratory of Dr. Jan Kosinski. This individual will serve as the scientific and operational leader of the laboratory's wet-lab program and play a key role in launching and building the research operation from the ground up. The Kosinski Laboratory investigates the influenza A virus infection cycle within cells and develops innovative approaches for in-cell structural biology. Our research integrates cryo-electron tomography, crosslinking mass spectrometry, cell biology, and computational approaches to uncover fundamental mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions. The laboratory will open at St. Jude in January 2027 as part of Dr. Kosinski's relocation from EMBL Hamburg. This is a unique opportunity for a scientifically driven individual who enjoys both hands-on research and laboratory leadership. The successful candidate will help establish laboratory infrastructure, oversee critical virology and cell culture operations, mentor trainees, and develop an independent research program focused on influenza biology and advanced cellular model systems.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in relevant scientific areas such as cell biology, virology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field is required.
Scientist Minimum Experience: Eight (8) years of relevant work experience is required
Scientist Minimum Experience: Six (6) years of relevant work experience is required with a Master's degree
Scientist Minimum Experience: Three (3) years of relevant work experience is required with a PhD
Associate Scientist Minimum Experience: 7 + years of research experience is required
Associate Scientist Minimum Experience: 5 + years of research experience is required with a Master’s degree
Associate Scientist Minimum Experience: 2 + years of research experience is required with a PHD

Nice To Haves

Mammalian cell culture, including primary cell culture systems
Influenza virology, including: Virus propagation, Viral infections, Plaque assays, TCID50 assays, Viral stock quality control
BSL-2 laboratory operations and biosafety practices
Molecular biology techniques, including: Cloning, Transfection, CRISPR-based genome engineering, Stable cell line generation
Protein biochemistry methods, including immunoprecipitation and western blotting
Fluorescence microscopy and confocal imaging
Laboratory documentation, inventory management, and regulatory compliance
Influenza reverse genetics and recombinant virus generation
Organoid, air-liquid interface, or other tissue-derived model systems
Experience establishing or expanding laboratory operations
Electronic laboratory notebook (ELN) administration or laboratory information management systems (LIMS)
Sample preparation for electron microscopy or mass spectrometry
Proteomics workflows and crosslinking mass spectrometry
Training, mentorship, and supervision of scientific staff and students
Tissue handling associated with animal-based studies
PhD, or equivalent doctoral degree strongly preferred.

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, 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 the 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.