Postdoctoral researcher

Asbmb; Rockville (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Asbmb seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join an NIH-funded program studying the structural biology of intracellular trafficking proteins linked to cardiovascular health, immunity, and viral infection. The work integrates cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, and biochemistry to uncover cargo recognition and host-pathogen interactions.

Located at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) in Rockville, the lab offers collaboration across a unique partnership among

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience in protein crystallography and/or single-particle cryo-EM.
• Strong background in recombinant protein expression, purification, and biochemical characterization.
• Peer-reviewed publications and excellent communication skills.

Skills

protein crystallography

cryo-EM

recombinant protein expression

protein purification

biochemical characterization

publication record

excellent communication

cryo-EM sample preparation

cryo-EM image processing

structural biology

Education

Ph.D. in Structural Biology/Biochemistry/Biophysics/Molecular Biology or related field

Tools

Sf9/baculovirus expression system

X-ray crystallography

cryo-EM

cryo-EM sample preparation

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to join our NIH-funded research program investigating the structural biology of intracellular trafficking proteins involved in cardiovascular health, immunity, and viral infection.
Our research combines single-particle cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, protein biochemistry, biophysics, and cell biology to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern cargo recognition, intracellular trafficking, and host-pathogen interactions.

Research Environment
Our laboratory is located at the Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research (IBBR) in Rockville, Maryland. IBBR is a unique partnership among the University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland College Park, and NIST, providing access to exceptional shared research facilities and interdisciplinary collaborations.
The institute is located within minutes of NIH, FDA, and NIST, and is surrounded by a vibrant biotechnology ecosystem that includes Novavax, AstraZeneca, and numerous emerging biotech companies.

Representative Publications

• Communications Biology (2022): An extended motif in the SARS-CoV-2 spike modulates binding and release of host coatomer in retrograde trafficking
• Nature Communications (2023): A single C-terminal residue controls SARS-CoV-2 spike trafficking and incorporation into VLPs
• Journal of Structural Biology X (2025): Production and cryo-electron microscopy structure of an internally tagged SARS-CoV-2 spike ecto-domain construct.
• bioRxiv: An unconventional HxD motif orchestrates coatomer-dependent coronavirus morphogenesis (under revision)

Required

• Ph.D. in Structural Biology, Biochemistry, Biophysics, Molecular Biology, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience in protein crystallography and/or single-particle cryo-EM
• Strong background in recombinant protein expression, purification, and biochemical characterization
• Peer-reviewed publications and excellent communication skills

Highly Desirable

• Experience with Sf9/baculovirus-based protein expression of membrane proteins and large macromolecular assemblies
• Cryo-EM sample preparation and image processing
• Protein crystallization and structure determination
• Biophysical methods for studying protein-protein interactions