Cell Assay Senior Scientist - Blue Sky Kinases

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

139d•$104,000 - $186,160•Onsite

About The Position

The Cell Assay Senior Scientist is part of the Cell-Based Assays team in the Blue Sky Initiative “Seeing the Invisible in Protein Kinases” within the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. The position uses molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell culture skills to translate insights about kinase structure and regulation into functional effects in cells, and to analyze candidate kinase inhibitors using high-, medium-, and low-throughput cell-based platforms. The work spans multiple kinases and involves background research, selecting and optimizing cell-based assays, and working with different cell lines or primary cells. Studies validate structural findings and may also discover kinase-mediated biology or mechanisms of kinase regulation. The initiative combines ultra-high-field nuclear magnetic resonance, cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, data science, and computational approaches to characterize the human kinome and explore kinase function, disease-associated mutations, and therapeutic opportunities. This is a full-time, weekday day-shift position scheduled for 40 hours per week. The posted annual salary range is $104,000–$186,160.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific area is required.
Relevant work experience: five years with a PhD, eight years with a master’s degree, or ten years with a bachelor’s degree.
Experience analyzing protein kinases and phosphorylation-dependent signaling events or pathways.
Expertise culturing varied cell types, such as cancer cell lines, primary cells, mouse embryo fibroblasts, inducible human pluripotent cells, immune cells, neuronal cells, and muscle cells.
Expertise with multiple methods for exogenous protein expression.
Proficiency presenting experimental designs and results using PowerPoint or similar software.
Technical capabilities include cloning, PCR, and qRT-PCR; sterile technique; and cell transfection, transduction, or infection for transient protein expression or cell-line generation.
Experience with quantitative immunoassays such as ELISA, AlphaLISA, and Mesoscale Discovery; immunoprecipitation and Western blotting; and protein-protein interaction methods such as proximity ligation, FRET, or NanoBit assays.
Experience with flow cytometry and FACS, reporter gene assays, phenotypic assays, microscopy, and cellular fractionation.
Creative, results-driven, strong critical thinking, and ability to learn quickly.
Hardworking, well-organized, flexible, and able to multitask efficiently in a fast-paced environment.
Collaborative and effective on teams with diverse backgrounds and opinions.
Able to prioritize work and complete assignments promptly.

Nice To Haves

Experience with mouse models; preferred but not essential.

Responsibilities

Research kinase-mediated signaling pathways, kinase targets or kinase-dependent phosphorylation events, and cellular outcomes for assigned kinase projects.
Identify appropriate cellular assays and cell types for structure-guided analysis of kinase signaling output and cellular phenotypes related to changes in kinase regulation or function.
Develop strategies and plans for cell-based assays, including evaluation of protein phosphorylation, protein interaction, protein localization, RNA abundance by qRT-PCR, protein ubiquitination, and protein abundance.
Develop strategies and plans for cell-based phenotypic assays, including viability, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, and differentiation assays.
Optimize and troubleshoot cell-based assays.
Perform statistical analysis using graphing software or R scripts.
Interpret, analyze, and communicate cell-based assay results within the Cell-Based Assays team and with collaborators on kinase projects.