Cell Assay Lead/Principal Scientist - Blue Sky Kinases

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

1d

About The Position

The Cell Assay Lead/Principal Scientist is a Senior Scientist position within St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Blue Sky Initiative, “Seeing the Invisible in Protein Kinases,” in Memphis, Tennessee. As a member of the Cell-Based Assays team, this scientist applies cell-signaling expertise and cell-culture skills to translate insights about kinase structure and regulation into functional effects in cells. The role involves designing and conducting experiments, reviewing data, troubleshooting assays, and guiding junior staff. Projects span multiple kinases and cell types, with cell-based studies used to validate structural findings and investigate kinase-mediated biology and mechanisms of regulation.

The initiative is an interdisciplinary project in the Department of Structural Biology, supported by $50 million in institutional funding. It uses ultra-high-field NMR, cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, data science, and computational methods to characterize the conformational landscape of the human kinome. This work aims to uncover kinase function and regulation in cells, understand the consequences of disease-associated mutations, and identify therapeutic opportunities.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific area and extensive relevant work experience, with experience thresholds varying by degree: 15 years with a bachelor’s degree, 13 years with a master’s degree, or 10 years with a PhD. A PhD is preferred. The position offers a stated salary range of $138,320–$262,080 per year.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific area.
• 15 years of relevant work experience with a bachelor’s degree, 13 years with a master’s degree, or 10 years with a PhD.
• Experience analyzing protein kinases and phosphorylation-dependent signaling events or pathways.
• Expertise culturing a variety of cell types, such as cancer cell lines, primary cells, mouse embryo fibroblasts, inducible human pluripotent cells, immune cells, neuronal cells, and muscle cells.
• Expertise in multiple methods for exogenous protein expression.
• Proficiency presenting experimental designs and results using PowerPoint or similar software.
• Technical capability in cloning, PCR, and qRT-PCR.
• Technical capability in sterile technique and cell transfection, transduction, or infection for transient protein expression or cell-line generation.
• Technical capability in quantitative immunoassays, including ELISA, AlphaLISA, and Meso Scale Discovery.
• Technical capability in immunoprecipitation and Western blotting.
• Technical capability in protein–protein interaction analysis, such as proximity ligation, FRET, or NanoBit assays.
• Technical capability in flow cytometry and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS).
• Technical capability in reporter gene assays and phenotypic assays, such as viability, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, colony-forming, autophagy, endocytosis, secretion, or differentiation assays.
• Technical capability in microscopy, including immunofluorescence, live-cell imaging, subcellular localization, and colocalization analysis, and in cellular fractionation.
• Creative and results-driven, with strong critical-thinking skills and the ability to learn quickly.
• Hardworking, well-organized, flexible, and able to multitask efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
• Collaborative and efficient as a member of teams with diverse backgrounds and opinions.
• Able to prioritize work and complete assignments promptly.

Nice To Haves

• PhD preferred.
• Experience with mouse models is preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

• Research kinase-mediated signaling pathways, kinase targets or kinase-dependent phosphorylation events, and related cellular outcomes for assigned projects.
• Collaborate with the cell-based assays team and structural biology researchers to identify suitable cellular assays and cells for evaluating kinase signaling and cellular phenotypes related to structure-guided changes in kinase regulation or function.
• Develop strategies and plans for a broad range of cell-based assays, including assays evaluating protein phosphorylation, protein interaction, protein localization, RNA abundance, protein ubiquitination, and protein abundance.
• Lead and collaborate on multiple structure-guided cell biology projects, providing project direction and guidance to junior staff.
• Work with the cell biology team to implement and troubleshoot cell-based phenotypic assays, including viability, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and differentiation assays.
• Review relevant kinase literature and team-generated experimental data; help design and perform assay optimization and troubleshooting.
• Analyze cell-assay data, including statistical analysis using graphing software or R scripts.
• Interpret and analyze results, prepare research reports, and communicate findings within the Cell-Based Assays team and with project collaborators.
• Contribute to recruiting and growing the team, and guide and mentor junior staff.

Benefits

• Generous paid time off.
• Work-life balance.
• Learning and growth opportunities.
• On-campus conveniences.
• World-class facilities, state-of-the-art technologies, and extraordinary support.

What This Job Offers

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