Postdoctoral Research Associate - Structural Biology - Sun lab

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation support

Tuition reimbursement

Healthcare benefits

Job summary

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Sun lab to advance structure-based drug discovery.

The project centers on high-resolution structural biology, including cryo-EM, protein expression, purification, and mechanistic studies of small molecules in disease-relevant pathways. The successful candidate will design and execute experiments in biochemistry and cell biology, publish findings, and mentor junior members while

Qualifications

• 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 with at least one first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal.

Responsibilities

• Independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments in structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology.
• Perform protein complex expression/purification (mammalian and insect systems), cryo-EM sample prep, data collection, and high-resolution structure determination.
• Conduct functional assays in mammalian cells and animal models to study pharmacology of novel small molecules.
• Rapidly learn and integrate new techniques as the project evolves.
• Maintain detailed records, analyze data, prepare manuscripts, and present results at lab meetings and scientific conferences.
• Work collaboratively with team members and external collaborators while taking ownership of sub-projects.

Skills

Cryo-EM

Biochemistry

Structural biology

Cell biology

Protein expression

Team collaboration

Education

Ph.D. in biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology or related field

Tools

Cryo-EM sample prep

Protein purification

Mammalian/insect expression systems

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Associate - Structural Biology - Sun lab

Location

Memphis, TN

Category

Postdoc

Department

Structural Biology

Shift

Weekday Day

Position Type

Full Time

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

JR7881

Job Description

We are seeking a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellow to join the Sun lab in the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The project focuses on structure-based drug discovery projects in the lab. This is an exceptional opportunity to work at the forefront of structural biology and drug discovery in a highly collaborative, well-resourced environment with access to state-of-the- art cryo-EM facilities.

Job Responsibilities

• Independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments in structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology
• Perform protein complex expression/purification (mammalian and insect systems), cryo-EM sample preparation, data collection, and high-resolution structure determination to understand the working mechanism of small molecules
• Conduct functional assays in mammalian cells and animal models to study pharmacology of novel small molecules
• Rapidly learn and integrate new techniques as the project evolves
• Maintain detailed records, analyze data, prepare manuscripts, and present results at lab meetings and scientific conferences
• Work collaboratively with team members and external collaborators while taking ownership of sub-projects

Minimum Education and Experience

• 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 with at least one first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior hands-on experience with single-particle cryo-EM (sample prep, data processing, model building) is a plus
• Expertise in protein expression/purification
• Background in chemical biology will be a plus
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Enthusiasm for mentoring junior lab members and contributing to a positive, supportive lab culture

What We Offer

St. Jude offers one of the most generous and comprehensive postdoctoral packages in the industry. This includes competitive salary (paid at or above national postdoctoral scales), full benefits (healthcare with minimal or no premiums), retirement contributions, paid parental leave, tuition reimbursement, and relocation support. You will have access to world‑class core facilities (Cryo-EM Center, Protein Production, Cell & Tissue Imaging, etc.), unlimited computational resources, and dedicated professional development funding. St. Jude is consistently ranked among Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and is a top destination for postdoctoral training.

We are committed to a human-centered hiring experience. Technology may support portions of our process, but recruiting decisions involve human review and engagement. Learn more about our approach to AI.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer