Post Doctoral Research Fellow

Job Summary/Basic Function:

Join the Nagarajan Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Fellow to investigate the molecular basis of
enzyme function and contribute to the development of novel antimicrobial strategies. This
postdoctoral position integrates protein biochemistry, microbiology, enzyme kinetics, chemical
and chemoenzymatic synthesis, small-molecule inhibitor screening, molecular docking, and
computational simulations to understand how bacteria communicate, acquire nutrients, and
cause disease—and to translate these mechanistic insights into new strategies for targeting
bacterial virulence.

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…