Postdoctoral Research Associate - Chemical Biology & Therapuetics
About The Position
A postdoctoral position in the laboratory of Taosheng Chen at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The Chen Lab investigates the molecular regulation of pregnane X receptor (PXR), constitutive androstane receptor (CAR), and the drug-metabolizing enzymes CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. Its research integrates structure-based drug design, chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, structural biology, and molecular and cellular biology to develop chemical tools and therapeutic strategies addressing drug toxicity and resistance. The successful candidate will lead cell and molecular biology efforts at the interface of chemical biology and structural biology. The work focuses on biologically characterizing ligands, inhibitors, and targeted protein degraders; investigating PXR and CAR regulation and transcriptional networks, or selective modulation of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5; and connecting molecular structure to biological activity and mechanism. Projects may use cellular and in vivo models to investigate drug metabolism, toxicity, and resistance. The role also includes leading multidisciplinary manuscripts and contributing to new research directions. The position is suited to a scientist with demonstrated cell and molecular biology expertise who can independently develop and lead biological strategies. A working understanding of structural biology, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology is needed to support collaboration and the development and testing of biological hypotheses. Experience or strong interest in chemical biology, nuclear receptor biology, drug metabolism, or protein degradation is valuable. The candidate should be motivated to take scientific ownership from biological hypothesis through mechanistic discovery and translational validation.
Requirements
- Demonstrated expertise in cell and molecular biology.
- Ability to independently develop and lead biological strategies to investigate PXR and CAR regulation and their transcriptional networks, or selective modulation of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5.
- Working understanding of structural biology, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology.
- Ability to use structural and chemical information to formulate and test biological hypotheses.
- Motivation to take scientific ownership of projects from biological hypothesis through mechanistic discovery and translational validation.
Nice To Haves
- Experience or strong interest in chemical biology, nuclear receptor biology, drug metabolism, or protein degradation.
Responsibilities
- Lead biological characterization of novel ligands, inhibitors, and targeted protein degraders developed in the lab, and establish their mechanisms of action.
- Develop and implement hypothesis-driven cellular and molecular approaches to investigate PXR and CAR regulation, transcriptional networks, or selective modulation of CYP3A4 and CYP3A5.
- Collaborate with structural biologists, chemists, and structure-based drug design scientists to connect molecular structure with biological activity and mechanism, and guide compound optimization.
- Evaluate promising chemical probes and therapeutic strategies in cellular and in vivo models to investigate drug metabolism, toxicity, and resistance.
- Lead multidisciplinary manuscripts and contribute to new research directions arising from mechanistic and chemical biology studies.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
