Postdoctoral Research Associate - Structural Biology - Sun lab

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

3d

About The Position

The Sun lab in the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital seeks a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellow for structure-based drug discovery projects. The role offers the opportunity to work at the forefront of structural biology and drug discovery in a collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to state-of-the-art cryo-EM facilities.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, pharmacology, chemical biology, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong publication record, including at least one first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience with single-particle cryo-EM, including sample preparation, data processing, and model building.
• Expertise in protein expression and purification.
• Background in chemical biology.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Enthusiasm for mentoring junior lab members and contributing to a positive, supportive lab culture.

Responsibilities

• Independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments in structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology.
• Perform protein complex expression and purification using mammalian and insect systems, prepare cryo-EM samples, collect data, and determine high-resolution structures to understand the working mechanisms of small molecules.
• Conduct functional assays in mammalian cells and animal models to study the pharmacology of novel small molecules.
• Learn and integrate new techniques as projects evolve.
• Maintain detailed records, analyze data, prepare manuscripts, and present results at lab meetings and scientific conferences.
• Collaborate with team members and external collaborators while taking ownership of sub-projects.

Benefits

• Competitive salary paid at or above national postdoctoral scales.
• Full benefits, including healthcare with minimal or no premiums.
• Retirement contributions.
• Paid parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Relocation support.
• Access to world-class core facilities, including Cryo-EM Center, Protein Production, and Cell & Tissue Imaging.
• Unlimited computational resources.
• Dedicated professional development funding.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree