Associate Scientist - Targeted Protein Degradation and Fetal Hemoglobin Induction
About The Position
The laboratory of Dr. Mitchell Weiss at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital seeks an Associate Scientist for a multidisciplinary research program developing therapeutic strategies for sickle cell disease through targeted protein degradation. The project builds on cereblon-based molecular glues that induce fetal hemoglobin (HbF) and expands the approach to additional erythroid-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases. The goal is to develop PROTACs and molecular glue degraders that selectively eliminate negative regulators of HbF expression. The Associate Scientist will contribute to discovery, characterization, and preclinical evaluation of targeted degraders using immortalized erythroid cell lines, primary human erythroblasts, and sickle cell disease mouse models. The work spans erythroid biology, chemical biology, protein degradation, and translational therapeutics. The role collaborates with Senior Scientists, postdoctoral fellows, and teams of medicinal chemists, molecular and cellular biologists, biochemists, and structural biologists in a collaborative research environment.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific area.
- At least 7 years of research experience; at least 5 years with a Master’s degree; or at least 2 years with a PhD.
- Strong experimental background in mammalian cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry, or cellular assays.
- Demonstrated ability to independently plan, execute, troubleshoot, and analyze experiments.
- Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and scientific problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment.
- Proven performance in an earlier or comparable role.
Nice To Haves
- PhD in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology, or a related field is preferred.
- Experience with immunoblotting, flow cytometry, gene expression analysis, and protein characterization.
- Experience with high-throughput experimentation.
- Experience in erythroid biology, hemoglobin regulation, hematopoiesis, or sickle cell disease research.
- Familiarity with targeted protein degradation technologies, including PROTACs, molecular glues, E3 ubiquitin ligases, and the ubiquitin-proteasome system.
- Experience with primary human erythroid or hematopoietic cell cultures.
- Experience with preclinical mouse models or translational drug discovery research.
- Experience leading and supporting research experiments.
- Experience leading lab and scientific project coordination, maintenance, and other research support activities.
- Experience guiding and training other laboratory personnel.
- Scientific curiosity, good communication skills, team spirit, and willingness to learn new techniques.
Responsibilities
- Independently design, perform, optimize, and troubleshoot experiments evaluating targeted protein degradation strategies for HbF induction.
- Characterize the activity, selectivity, and mechanisms of action of PROTACs and molecular glue degraders targeting negative regulators of HbF expression.
- Evaluate candidate compounds in immortalized erythroid cell lines and primary human erythroblast cultures using molecular, cellular, and biochemical assays.
- Investigate target protein degradation, HbF induction, erythroid differentiation, and relevant cellular responses.
- Contribute to preclinical evaluation of promising compounds in sickle cell disease mouse models.
- Develop and optimize new or modified laboratory techniques and experimental protocols.
- Collect, process, organize, analyze, and interpret experimental data, and communicate findings to the research team.
- Collaborate with medicinal chemists, cell and molecular biologists, biochemists, and structural biologists on compound development and mechanistic characterization.
- Assist in preparing scientific manuscripts, posters, presentations, standard operating procedures, and research reports.
- Maintain current knowledge of relevant scientific advances, methodologies, and technologies.
- Provide guidance and technical training to less-experienced laboratory personnel and collaborators as appropriate.
- Support laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance and calibration, inventory management, and ordering supplies.
- Perform other duties as assigned to support departmental and institutional research objectives.
- Maintain regular and predictable attendance.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
