Post Doctoral Research Fellow

Post Doctoral Research Fellow

Boise State University

Job no: 499644

Work type:
Non-Classified/Professional

Location:

Boise,

Categories:
Research,College of Arts & Sciences,Mid-Level

Join the Nagarajan Lab to investigate the molecular basis of enzyme function and contribute to the development of novel antimicrobials. This postdoctoral position integrates protein biochemistry, enzyme kinetics, and small-molecule synthesis to explore how bacteria communicate, acquire nutrients, and cause disease-and to translate these insights into new antimicrobial strategies. The successful candidate will gain hands-on experience in steady-state and fast-reaction kinetics, chemoenzymatic synthesis, molecular docking, and state-of-the-art biophysical instrumentation.

Experience with Schrödinger software is desirable.

This position will begin in Jan 2027, but an earlier or later start date is possible depending on the applicant circumstance. This position will remain open until filled. Review of applications will begin Sep 18th, 2026.

The Post Doctoral Fellow will work with Dr. Rajesh Nagarajan and his research group in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. The department supports 12 research active tenure-track faculty, 6 teaching and research faculty, and 5 postdoctoral fellows. Faculty members in the Chemistry Department conduct research in areas such as medicinal chemistry & medical devices, protein biochemistry, enzymology, bioinorganic chemistry, computational chemistry, prebiotic chemistry, molecular spectroscopy, and materials chemistry.

Our faculty members participate and mentor Ph.D. graduate students in transdisciplinary programs including Materials Science and Engineering, Biomolecular Sciences, Biomedical Engineering and Computing.

The Nagarajan Laboratory provides access to a broad range of instrumentation for biochemical and biophysical studies, including a Bio-Rad NGC FPLC system, Thermo Scientific Ulti Mate 3000 HPLC, Agilent 1290 Biocompatible HPLC, Applied Photophysics SX20 stopped-flow spectrometer, Fluoro Max-4C spectrofluorometer, and Bio Tek multimode plate readers. The post-doctoral fellow will also have access to shared instrumentation within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Biological Sciences, and the Boise State Biomolecular Research Center.

These resources include Bruker maXis Q-TOF mass spectrometry, Bruker 600 MHz NMR spectroscopy, MALDI mass spectrometry with imaging capabilities, Agilent 6470 triple-quadrupole LC-MS systems, isothermal titration calorimetry, advanced plate readers, and microscopy facilities.

After earning a Ph.D., the next step in the academic or research career path is often a postdoc. A postdoc is a continuation of a researcher's training that enables them to further their professional development and start to transition from student to independent researcher. Postdocs also often take additional leadership or teaching responsibilities in their laboratory or department. These positions are usually two to three years and it is not unusual for a researcher to do more than one postdoc.

• Expertise and hands-on experience in protein purification.
• Experience in conducting enzyme assays and/or protein-binding assays.
• Ability to work independently and as a team member.
• Demonstrated proficiency in scientific writing skills such as preparation of manuscripts.
• Strong work ethic and commitment to becoming an independent scientist.
• Excellent analytical and organizational skills.
• Assist in training and supervising students and other research personnel in the PI's laboratory.
• Maintain accurate and thorough documentation of research data in accordance with applicable data-management protocols.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Excellent teamwork and communication skills.
• Strong commitment to research integrity, laboratory safety, and ethical conduct.
• Scientific writing skills demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to acquire accurate, reproducible data.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and mentoring skills.

Requires a minimum of a Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in a relevant discipline.

• Strong background in enzymology and mechanism of action studies.
• Experience handling microbes and bioassays.
• Experience in Schrodinger molecular docking, simulation and small molecule drug discovery packages.
• Experience in small…