Postdoctoral Associate in Membrane Protein Structural Biology

Job Title: Postdoctoral Associate in Membrane Protein Structural Biology

Job Number: 113724

Location: Buffalo, US

Overview:
An NIH‑funded Postdoctoral Associate position is open in the laboratory of Dr. Alex Vecchio in the Department of Structural Biology at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Research in the Vecchio lab focuses on elucidating the structural and functional biology of human membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes involved in intercellular transport at epithelial and endothelial tight junctions.

Current research spans these primary topics:

• 3D structure determination of small integral membrane proteins and their complexes by crystallographic and electron microscopic techniques.
• Quantitative biochemical and biophysical characterization of membrane protein/protein interactions essential for tight junction integration and assembly.
• Development of biomolecular tools to investigate structure/function relationships between individual or complexed tight junction membrane proteins and for enabling determination of their structures by cryogenic electron microscopy.

The postdoc will be responsible for the expression, purification, biophysical interaction studies, and structure determination of tight junction membrane proteins and complexes. Other activities of the position include assisting with lab organization and operation, training of students and other lab personnel, and grant and manuscript proposal development and writing.

• Research (75%):
  Expression, purification, structure determination of tight junction integral membrane proteins.
• Service (20%):
  Lab maintenance, tidiness, inventory, attendance and presenting at weekly lab meetings, creation of presentations and documents for research purposes (annual reports, seminars, etc.).
• Development (5%):
  Grant and manuscript development and writing, attendance at workshops to learn new scientific skills, attendance at domestic/international conferences to present research.

$50-60,000. The salary range reflects our good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation at the time of posting, the role and associated responsibilities, and the experience, education, and training of the selected candidate.

• Ph.D. in structural biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics, or a related discipline. All degree requirements, including dissertation, must be completed.
• The candidate should also possess effective written, verbal, and listening skills.

• 2+ years’ experience in expression, purification, and biochemical preparation of membrane proteins for structural studies and in-depth application of one structural biology technique.

Applicants should contact Dr. Vecchio directly for queries about the position. Interested candidates should submit (1) a Cover Letter highlighting their research experience, potential projects of interest, and potential fit within the lab; (2) current CV; and (3) contact information or letters from 3 references.

As an Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and veteran or disability status.

Final date to receive applications: