Postdoctoral Associate

About The Job

The French lab at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is looking to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our multi‑disciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the physical sciences and experience with the biophysical characterization of proteins and protein complexes. Experience with structural biology (cryo‑EM or crystallography), chromatography, mass spec‑based targeted metabolomics, assay development, lipid biochemistry or immunology would be considered assets.

The lab has a number of NIH‑and NSF‑funded basic and translational research projects including the characterization of higher‑order structures of proteins involved in nucleotide metabolism, the discovery and development of immunomodulatory inhibitors as drug leads, target validation and assay development for novel chemo therapeutics, method development for Cryo‑EM, and mechanistic studies of signal transduction in photoreceptors. The selected candidate would be expected to be an intellectual leader in one project area and contribute to other research in the lab.

A particular focus of this position is expected to be the structure‑guided enzymology and drug discovery of proteins, and protein complexes, implicated in human immune signaling pathways. For more information about projects and recent publications, please see the lab webpage at:

The French lab at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota is looking to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our multi‑disciplinary team. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the physical sciences and experience with the biophysical characterization of proteins and protein complexes. Experience with structural biology (cryo‑EM or crystallography), chromatography, mass spec‑based targeted metabolomics, assay development, lipid biochemistry or immunology would be considered assets.

The lab has a number of NIH‑and NSF‑funded basic and translational research projects including the characterization of higher‑order structures of proteins involved in nucleotide metabolism, the discovery and development of immunomodulatory inhibitors as drug leads, target validation and assay development for novel chemo therapeutics, method development for Cryo‑EM, and mechanistic studies of signal transduction in photoreceptors. The selected candidate would be expected to be an intellectual leader in one project area and contribute to other research in the lab.

A particular focus of this position is expected to be the structure‑guided enzymology and drug discovery of proteins, and protein complexes, implicated in human immune signaling pathways. For more information about projects and recent publications, please see the lab webpage at:  This position provides excellent learning opportunities and access to state‑of‑the‑art resources and facilities, including training and regular access to our in‑house electron microscopy suite (Titan Krios 5, Titan Krios G2, Arctis Cryo‑Plasma FIB/SEM) for cryo‑EM and cryo‑ET studies, a triple‑quad LC/MS‑MS for compound  targeted metabolomics, full medicinal chemistry capabilities for the synthesis and evaluation of small molecules, and a suite of advanced technologies for the biophysical characterization of samples including instruments for surface plasmon resonance, grating‑coupled interferometry, photometry and multi‑angle light scattering, among others.

The employer retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.

The candidate would be expected to work on multiple aspects of one or more projects at any one time. This will include, but is not limited to, experimental design, implementation, and data collection as well as the analysis and dissemination of research data. The individual would be expected to work independently but also frequently collaborate with lab members and other scientists.

As an integral part of our research team, the candidate would be expected to help us to always maintain a safe and professional work environment, and to actively participate in regular group meetings.