Rsch Pro 3-Biochemistry

About the Job

Summary:

Under general direction of the PI or senior lab members, carries out and coordinates complex research activities within PI-directed projects involving structural studies of viral entry proteins and development of entry inhibitors targeting viral entry proteins. Works with the PI or senior lab members to plan experiments, optimize protocols, troubleshoot technical problems, coordinate laboratory operations, train junior personnel, and support higher-level laboratory and grant management.

Duties and Responsibilities:

80% - Research
Under general direction of the PI or senior lab members, conducts and coordinates assigned components of research projects investigating the structure and function of viral entry proteins and developing entry inhibitors, including nanobodies and small-molecule compounds, that target viral entry proteins. Works with the PI or senior lab members to plan and prioritize experiments, optimize and troubleshoot protocols, interpret and summarize data, and prepare figures, tables, and written summaries for manuscripts, presentations, and grant reports.

Performs and refines techniques including molecular cloning, mammalian/insect/bacterial cell culture, recombinant protein expression, protein purification, and protein biochemistry assays. May take primary responsibility for defined experimental workflows or components of larger research projects, while overall project direction remains with the PI, with day-to-day guidance from the PI or senior lab members.

10% - Laboratory Operations and Training
In coordination with the PI or senior lab members, supports laboratory operations to promote safety, efficiency, and research productivity. Responsibilities include organizing lab space and resources, planning purchasing and inventory needs, coordinating equipment maintenance and troubleshooting, training and providing day-to-day guidance to undergraduates, technicians, and less experienced staff, and helping resolve operational issues involving equipment, workflow, staff coordination, and resource allocation.

10% - Administrative, Grant, and Project Management Support
Supports the PI or senior lab members with administrative, grant, and project management activities, including helping plan project timelines, assisting with budget allocation and tracking, preparing progress-report or grant-related materials, documenting compliance-related activities, and identifying laboratory changes that improve productivity and operational effectiveness.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications:
BA/BS in biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, or a related field, plus at least four years of related experience, or a combination of related education and work experience to equal at least eight years.

Preferred Qualifications:
Master''s degree in biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, microbiology, or a related field preferred. Experience optimizing or troubleshooting molecular biology, cell culture, protein purification, or protein biochemistry workflows is preferred. Experience with recombinant protein expression, mammalian, insect, or bacterial cell culture, chromatography-based protein purification, PCR, gel electrophoresis, restriction enzyme digestion, bacterial transformation, western blotting, or related molecular biology techniques is also preferred.

Qualified candidates should have excellent oral and written communication skills; the ability to work with general supervision from the PI or senior lab members, think critically about their research, and help guide less experienced staff; excellent organizational skills; enthusiasm; creativity; and motivation to learn.

About the Department

The Department of Pharmacology at the University of Minnesota is one of six basic science departments in the Medical School. The well-funded research programs of our primary faculty members focus on understanding and developing better treatments for cancer, addiction and the opioid crisis, cardiovascular disease, infectious disease, and metabolic syndrome. We also offer an undergraduate Pharmacology Minor, oversee the Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Graduate Program (MPaT),…