MacCHESS Staff Scientist

Zymtronix Catalytic Systems Inc; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee wellness programs

Flexible work options

Childcare and adoption assistance

Job summary

A prominent research facility located in Ithaca, NY, is seeking a Ph.D.-level scientist to support and advance methods in macromolecular crystallography, contribute to user support, and collaborate on innovative projects. Ideal candidates will have a solid publication record, experience with complex instrumentation, and the ability to work in a multidisciplinary environment. Competitive compensation between $95,000 and $115,000 per year is offered.

Qualifications

• Minimum 4-5 years post-PhD experience.
• Experience in macromolecular crystallography or biological high-pressure studies preferred.
• Analytical skills for large experimental datasets.

Responsibilities

• Support an active user community utilizing X-ray techniques.
• Develop new MX synchrotron methods and techniques.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and facility users.
• Contribute to scientific documentation and publications.
• Mentor students and postdoctoral researchers.

Skills

Interest in multidisciplinary research

Solid record of scientific publications

Ability to communicate effectively

Experience with complex experimental instrumentation

Proficiency in science communication

Education

PhD in structural biology, biophysics, chemistry or related field

Job description

The Role

The Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS) seeks a Ph.D.-level scientist to join the Flexible Macromolecular Crystallography (FlexX) station supporting a vibrant structural biology community. The role blends (1) expert user support for routine and advanced macromolecular crystallography (MX) and (2) collaborative development of new X‑ray diffraction capabilities for questions that push beyond standard methods.

Recent FlexX advances—now available to users and still being refined—include fixed‑target serial crystallography, support for diffuse scattering experiments, and a diamond anvil cell (DAC) designed for MX.

Priority application areas include:

• Ambient‑temperature crystallography, including serial approaches
• High‑pressure methods (DAC and high‑pressure cryocooling), especially to trap intermediates in crystallo
• Extreme biology conditions (e.g., anoxic, high/low salinity or pH, specific metals)
• Diffuse scattering to probe conformational ensembles and molecular motions
• Future development of time‑resolved and dynamic MX, building on existing capabilities and collaborative partnerships

The scientist will also occasionally assist at the MacCHESS BioSAXS station and contribute to cross‑beamline user support and methods development.

This position is jointly funded by two CHESS sub‑facilities: the NSF‑funded Center for High‑Energy X‑ray Sciences at CHESS (CHEXS, an NSF‑supported program) and the Macromolecular Diffraction Facility of the Cornell High‑Energy Synchrotron Source (MacCHESS, an NIH‑supported National Resource). The role involves collaborative projects and beamline/user support across both programs.

Responsibilities

• Support an active user community, including in‑person and remote users from NSF, NIH, Industry and Academia, who are engaged in employing X‑ray techniques to characterize a variety of biological systems.
• Creatively contribute to the development of new MX synchrotron methods and techniques, from experimental hardware to data reduction and analysis required by users.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with multiple stakeholders, including facility users, funding agencies, and collaborators at other institutions. This includes promoting and disseminating MacCHESS/CHEXS developments and capabilities to the structural biology community.
• Maintain an individual record of scholarship and contribute to the scholarly output of the lab through internal research highlights, publications in peer‑reviewed journals, grant and report writing, and presentations at national and international conferences.
• Mentor students and postdoctoral researchers in synchrotron and MX techniques.

Essential Qualifications

• PhD or equivalent in structural biology, biophysics, chemistry, or a related field and 4‑5 years post‑PhD experience.
• Interest and ability to work in a multidisciplinary research environment.
• Solid record of scientific publications and achievement.
• Passion for contributing to an environment that builds individual and organizational effectiveness.
• Ability to communicate effectively with technical experts, operations staff, and researchers at all levels, including students, postdocs, interns, and facility users.
• Experience with complex experimental instrumentation.
• Proficiency in science communication, written and oral, formal and informal.

Preference will be given to applicants with a background in macromolecular crystallography and/or biological high‑pressure studies, including experience in serial MX methods and/or biological high‑pressure studies, particularly geared toward structural biology and involving scattering or diffraction techniques—especially at large user facilities. Experience analyzing large experimental datasets is also an asset.

Compensation

The salary range for this research associate position is $95,000 to $115,000. The initial appointment is for three years and can be renewed based on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.

How To Apply

Applications should be submitted online via Academic Jobs Online at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30863 and should include the following materials:

• Cover letter
• Curriculum vitae
• List of publications
• Statement of Research summarizing examples of recent research, and areas of interest for future work, especially involving synchrotron radiation and MX science and/or high‑pressure biology
• Three letters of recommendation

Contact

For further information about the position, please contact MacCHESS CHEXS Program Director Jennifer Wierman ([e-mail]).

About Us

Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Cornell's inclusive community of scholars, students and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery and engagement. With our main campus located in Ithaca, NY, Cornell's far‑flung global presence includes the medical college's campuses on the Upper East Side of Manhattan and Doha, Qatar, as well as the Cornell Tech campus located on Roosevelt Island in the heart of New York City.

We offer a rich array of services, programs and benefits to help employees advance in their career and enhance the quality of personal life, including employee wellness, workshops, childcare and adoption assistance, parental leave, flexible work options.

EEO Statement

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