Postdoctoral Research Associate - Van Stappen Lab (Metalloprotein Design)

Indiana University; Indiana; On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to join their dynamic team in the Department of Chemistry. This role offers a unique opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research in protein design and catalysis within a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. The successful candidate will manage their own projects, contribute to innovative research, and mentor fellow group members. With a focus on inclusivity and professional growth, this position will allow you to develop a diverse skill set that is valuable in both academia and industry. If you're passionate about advancing scientific knowledge and making an impact, this is the perfect opportunity for you.

Benefits

Competitive Salary

Benefits Package

Flexible Working Environment

Qualifications

• Strong background in protein work, including expression and purification.
• Experience with computational protein design tools is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage projects and coordinate activities to meet deadlines.
• Develop new scientific techniques and experimental protocols.

Skills

Protein Design

Metalloproteins

Catalysis

Inorganic Spectroscopy

Communication Skills

Time Management

Education

Ph.D. in Chemistry

Ph.D. in Biochemistry

Ph.D. in Chemical Biology

Tools

Python

Matlab

R

Mass Spectrometry

NMR

Job description

Position Summary

The Department of Chemistry consists of a well-rounded research community with cutting-edge expertise in a wide variety of modern disciplines including analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, materials chemistry, and biochemistry.

The chemical biology area of the Department of Chemistry is located in Simon Hall on our heavily wooded campus. Simon Hall sits between the Biology and Chemistry buildings and is home to our graduate training program in Quantitative and Chemical Biology (https://iuqcb.indiana.edu). Simon Hall houses other biochemists and structural biologists and all structural biology and mass spectrometry core facilities. Physical proximity to the Chemistry Building promotes strong interactions with other groups in the inorganic, analytical and materials areas.

The Van Stappen lab at Indiana University is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral researcher associate with a strong interest in protein design, metalloproteins, catalysis, and inorganic spectroscopy.

Our lab studies the structure-function relationships of essential metalloenzymes, providing a highly interdisciplinary environment bridging chemical biology and catalysis with inorganic and physical chemistry. A successful applicant will have a deep understanding of protein folding and interest in metal-based biological catalysis. Available projects involve "bottom-to-top" de novo metalloenzyme generation, including computational metalloprotein design, experimental expression/purification/biophysical characterization, catalytic assessment, and spectroscopic investigation.

The successful applicant will play an essential role in establishing our growing lab and gain wide skill sets, both technical and soft, relevant to both academic and industry career paths. We provide an inclusive and flexible working environment that will support you in your career goals and prioritize your well-being.

Responsibilities:

As a postdoctoral research associate, you will be expected to:

1) Manage own projects and administrative activities, coordinating multiple aspects of work to meet deadlines.

2) Undertake comprehensive and systematic literature reviews to develop projects.

3) Adapt existing and develop new scientific techniques and experimental protocols to achieve research objectives.

4) Use specialist scientific equipment in a laboratory environment.

5) Assist in setting up a new research laboratory at IU.

6) Contribute ideas to the development of existing and new research projects.

7) Mentor and advise other group members on scientific methods and protocols in your areas of expertise.

8) Contribute to collaborative projects with other group members, colleagues and research groups both at IU and externally.

9) Regularly provide research progress updates and relevant literature to team members at internal group meetings.

10) Represent the research group at internal and external meetings/seminars, either with other members of the group or alone.

11) Prepare scientific reports and journal articles for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Basic Qualifications

Required Qualifications:

Ph.D. in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, or closely related discipline at time of appointment. Applicants should have a strong background in working with proteins, including recombinant expression and purification. The successful candidate must have strong communication, writing, and time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience with computational protein design tools is highly preferred. Experience in some combination - but not all - of the following areas is expected: biophysical & structural biology methods, inorganic spectroscopy, metabolomics, proteomics, aqueous phase catalysis, analytical methods (mass spectrometry, NMR ). Experience in data analysis and scientific programming (Python, Matlab, R, etc.) is also advantageous.

Department Contact for Questions

Questions regarding the position or application process can be directed to: Prof. Van Stappen, Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Avenue, Bloomington, IN 47405, [e-mail].

Special Instructions

The initial appointment for this position will be for 12 months. Additional 12-month extension will be available based on performance. A competitive salary along with a benefits package will be offered.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to http://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings29450/ . Applications will be reviewed upon receipt.