Lead Researcher in Blue Sky Protein Kinases

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 106,000; Full time

Job summary

An established research institution is seeking a Lead Researcher for Drug Discovery to join a prestigious team focused on kinase drug discovery. This role offers the opportunity to work on groundbreaking projects with access to state-of-the-art resources, including the world's largest NMR machine. Collaborate with experts in a vibrant environment dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children battling cancer. If you are passionate about scientific innovation and want to contribute to high-impact research, this position is perfect for you.

Benefits

Comprehensive healthcare

Tuition assistance

On-site gym

Employee pharmacy

Paid time off

Professional development programs

No state income tax

Competitive salary

Relocation assistance

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

Qualifications

• Strong interest in ligand and drug discovery targeting Kinases.
• Experience in ligand/drug discovery or structural biology is highly desired.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop biochemical and biophysical assays for hit identification.
• Carry out high-throughput assays and characterize inhibitors.

Skills

Biochemical Assays

Biophysical Assays

High-throughput Screening

Kinase Inhibitor Development

Drug Discovery

Education

PhD in Biophysics

PhD in Biochemistry

PhD in Structural Biology

Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific area

Tools

NMR Spectroscopy

Lab Automation

Biochemical Tools

Cellular Tools

Job description

Lead Researcher in Blue Sky Protein Kinases

We are seeking either a Lead Researcher for Drug Discovery on our Ligand Discovery Team on the Department of Structural Biology's Blue Sky Kinase Project.

Join an excellent team of researchers dedicated to coming closer to the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, that no child will die at the dawn of life. The Kalodimos Lab at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is seeking a highly skilled and motivated Lead Researcher to join our prestigious Blue Sky Kinase Project. Led by Dr. Charalampos Kalodimos, and supported by Dr. Madan Babu and Dr. Christoph Gorgulla, this exciting initiative is funded by over $50 million, providing exceptional resources and research conditions.

For more information on the Blue Sky project visit our website at https://www.stjude.org/research/departments/structural-biology/blue-sky-initiative-protein-kinases.html

If selected, you will play a pivotal role in our Ligand Discovery Team, led by Dr. Christoph Gorgulla. This position is at the frontier of kinase drug discovery, focusing on the experimental validation of kinase-ligand interactions. Our team is dedicated to developing novel kinase-specific inhibitors making use of ultra-large virtual screening using Virtual Flow (screening billions of molecules), complemented by a streamlined experimental validation strategy that integrates biochemical, biophysical, cellular, and structural tools. Our team has access to novel inactive conformations/states of kinases that are obtained by a fleet of over a dozen NMR magnets by the Kalodimos lab, including a 1.1 GHz machine , the largest in the world when it arrived in 2020, that allow us to develop inhibitors of unprecedented specificity.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to highly collaborative projects, expand their skillsets, and participate in high-impact publications. Collaboration is at the heart of our work, and you will closely work with our computational and other wet-lab colleagues to validate and experimentally verify the predicted hit and lead compounds. By working together in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, you will have the opportunity to contribute to multiple ligand/drug discovery projects and make a lasting impact on the lives of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

Job Responsibilities:

• The successful candidate will play an active role in designing and developing biochemical and biophysical assays to support small molecule hit identification and MOA studies.

• The candidate will carry out high-throughput assays for Hit identification and will help characterize the identified inhibitors using biochemical, biophysical and cellular tools. The postdoc will have the opportunity to interact with multiple teams and experts within St. Jude to streamline hit identification using lab automation and state-of-the art cellular and biochemical tools and for carrying out assays for developing SAR and lead optimization for novel Kinase inhibitors.

Ideal Candidate:

• The Successful candidate for this position will have a PhD in Biophysics or Biochemistry or Structure Biology. The candidate should demonstrate an academic record of excellence and a strong interest in the fields of ligand and drug discovery targeting Kinases.

• Experience in ligand/drug discovery or structural biology is highly desired and . Interest in extending the candidate’s skill set in these areas would be valuable.

Lead Researcher:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant scientific area is required.

Minimum Experience:

• 5 (five) years of experience with a Bachelor’s degree.
• 2 (two) years of experience with a Master's degree.
• no additional experience with a PhD.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a world-class research institution dedicated to pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Our 300 faculty work across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and population science in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment that includes a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. St. Jude is ranked on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma” and Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work”. St. Jude is one of the best-funded research institutes in the US with an annual budget of over $2 billion per year ( https://www.stjude.org/about-st-jude/financials.html ).

Working at St. Jude is a remarkable and special experience in many ways.

• Mission: At St. Jude, working is more than just a job — it's a calling. Each member of St. Jude is united by a shared purpose: finding cures and saving children. In addition to the meaningful work you will undertake, we offer a range of perks to enhance your experience.

• Community and Belonging: St. Jude is like a warm family that welcomes you, to a large part because it is a Children’s hospital. It provides an exceptionally warm and friendly atmosphere. St. Jude also fosters a vibrant scientist and postdoc community that supports a well-balanced life. A dynamic environment promotes connections and camaraderie among researchers from all backgrounds

• The Best of Both Worlds - Industry and Academia: St. Jude provides academic freedom in research and industrial efficiency and resources. We have access to world-class shared resources/facilities led by expert scientists, coupled with state-of-the-art technology and funding, accelerating research productivity.

• Benefits: St. Jude offers a world-class benefits package ( https://www.stjude.org/jobs/hospital/benefits.html ). Enjoy comprehensive healthcare, a competitive salary, tuition assistance for continued education, and exceptional work-life balance with ample paid time off.

• Additional Perks: St. Jude offers many special perks, such as an on-site gym, an employee pharmacy, and many others. To learn more about the unexpected perks of working at St. Jude, visit our website at https://www.stjude.org/jobs/hospital/talent-talks/10-unexpected-perks-of-working-at-st-jude.html

• Professional and Career Growth: Experience specifically designed programs to enhance professional growth and career readiness empowering postdocs for success beyond their training. This includes access to grant writing workshops, individual development plans, teaching and mentoring opportunities, non-research career advancement programs, professional development allowance, and so much more. More information can be found at https://www.stjude.org/jobs/hospital/talent-talks/5-questions-to-ask-when-looking-for-a-job-in-science.html

• Diversity: St. Jude is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse scientific community, where everyone’s contributions are valued. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has a diverse, global patient population and workforce, built on the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our founder Danny Thomas envisioned a hospital that would treat children of the world—regardless of race, religion, or a family’s ability to pay. Learn more about our history and commitment . Today, we continue the mission to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. As we accelerate this progress globally, we believe our legacy of diversity, equity, and inclusion is foundational to success. With the commitment of leaders at all levels of the organization, we strive to ensure the St. Jude culture, leadership approaches and talent processes are equitable and culturally responsive. More information is available here .

• Competitive Compensation: Embark on your journey with a competitive salary (depending on experience) comprehensive benefits and generous relocation assistance, reflecting our commitment to recognize and invest in talent. Furthermore, in Memphis/Tennessee, there is no income tax.

Top Employer: St. Jude was among the top 10 large employers in the US in 2024, ahead of Google, Microsoft and Apple: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-large-employers/?sh=70605b987b66

Top Employer for Women: St. Jude is also among the top 10 employers for women in the US: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-women/

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is high school and college students’ top “dream employer,” according to the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) 2018 Career Interest Survey. https://www.hrdive.com/news/st-judes-tops-list-of-students-dream-employers/526201/

About Memphis

St. Jude is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food, and culture. Living in Memphis provides several unique advantages, including:

• Breathtaking Nature: Memphis provides unique nature and scenery, such as the Mississippi (the largest river in the US) or Shelby Farms Park , with which 4,500 acres is one of the largest urban parks in the country. See https://www.memphistravel.com/sports-outdoors for more details.

• Its Culture: It is for instance the home of Elvis Presley. See https://www.memphistravel.com/arts-culture for more details on the cultural aspects.

• It’s Affordability: Memphis is one of the most affordable cities in the US, meaning the same income will bring you farther than in other places in the US (for more details, see https://www.moneycrashers.com/most-affordable-cities-live/ ). In addition, there is no income tax in Tennessee.

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $60,320 - $105,040 per year for the role of Lead Researcher in Blue Sky Protein Kinases.

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St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. Please do not call or email. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee or other representative at St. Jude via email, the internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place and approved by HR will result in no fee being paid in the event the candidate is hired by St. Jude.