Postdoctoral position in Structural Biology – Scott Blanchard Lab

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the lab of Scott Blanchard. The Blanchard laboratory in the Department of Structural Biology e Children’s Research Hospital is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher with experience in molecular biology, biochemistry (preferably of membrane proteins), and quantitative biophysical and/or computational approaches to examine the molecular basis of GPCR signaling fidelity at single‑molecule scale in order to accelerate a next‑generation GPCR‑targeting drug discovery program.

Our highly interdisciplinary, collaborative, mission‑driven environment requires a creative, team‑oriented individual with strong leadership skills who would ensure the highest quality of operations to advance the lab’s, as well as St. Jude’s, scientific mission.

• Lead the experimental design, execution, and data analysis of biophysical studies characterizing GPCR structural dynamics with in vivo downstream signaling response.
• Engineer and isolate high‑quality, homogeneous samples of GPCRs and signaling partners for ensemble and single‑molecule analytical assays.
• Expand your technical skillset through expert‑led training in smFRET imaging to perform experiments, analyze complex datasets, and develop quantitative models to explain GPCR signaling mechanisms.
• Work independently, leading a project from hypothesis to high‑quality oral presentations and publications.
• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary group of researchers as part of a multi‑institutional collaborative, including presentations to a broad audience.
• Train and mentor graduate students, postdocs and visiting scientists.
• Instruct other staff in basic laboratory techniques and procedures.

• Ph.D. in life science or other physical science.

• 0–3 years of post‑PhD experience.
• Prior experience in GPCR signaling studies and/or single‑molecule fluorescence analyses.
• Direct experience with isolation and functional characterization of GPCRs and their signaling partners (G‑proteins, arrestins, GPCR kinases, etc.).

• Parallel stopped‑flow interrogation of diverse biological systems at the single‑molecule scale.
• Single‑Molecule Imaging of Integral Membrane Protein Dynamics and Function.
• GPCR‑mediated β‑arrestin activation deconvoluted with single‑molecule precision.
• Single‑molecule analysis of ligand efficacy in β2AR‑G‑protein activation.
• Single‑molecule FRET imaging of GPCR dimers in living cells.
• Quantifying secondary transport at single‑molecule resolution.
• CFTR function, pathology and pharmacology at single‑molecule resolution.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer.