Postdoctoral Research Associate - Structural Biology (Blanchard Lab)

Job Description Summary

The Blanchard laboratory in the Department of Structural Biology is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with experience in protein and membrane protein biochemistry to join a newly funded GPCR collaborative project to investigate the structural dynamics of GPCRs and their signaling partners using biophysical methods, including single-molecule FRET (smFRET).

The ideal candidate would be a recent PhD graduate with a demonstrated capability to propose new hypotheses based on scientific literature, design experiments, and interpret results in a mechanistic framework.

Our highly interdisciplinary, collaborative, mission-driven environment requires a creative, team-oriented individual, who will ensure high-quality operations and share our vision to successfully pursue impactful scientific advances.

Successful candidates should have demonstrated competencies in the following areas :

Capability to express, purify, and biochemically characterize membrane proteins in mammalian and / or insect cell culture.

Prior experience with single-molecule biophysical techniques, GPCR biology, or quantitative modeling.

Significant contribution towards peer-reviewed research articles in related scientific subject(s).

Excellent communication and presentation skills and ability to prepare high-quality manuscripts of findings for publication.

Selected Publications :

Responsibilities :

Design and perform biochemical and biophysical experiments to investigate structure-dynamics-function relationships of various integral membrane proteins or membrane-associated proteins involved in GPCR-mediated signaling pathways.

Protein purification, site-specific fluorophore labeling, and biochemical / functional characterization of GPCRs, G-proteins, arrestins, and other signaling proteins.

Perform single-molecule fluorescence (smFRET) imaging of labeled signaling molecules with guidance and training from technical experts in the field, analyze smFRET data, and interpret the results in mechanistic, quantitative frameworks with guidance and training from technical experts in the field.

Work independently, leading a project from hypothesis to high-quality oral presentations and publications.

Collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of researchers as part of a multi-institutional collaborative, including presentations to a broad audience.

Train and mentor of graduate students, post-docs and visiting scientists.

Instructs other staff in basic laboratory techniques and procedures.

Minimum Education :

Ph.D. in life sciences or other physical sciences required.

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