Postdoctoral Research Associate - Chemical Biology & Therapuetics

Research Focus

The Chen Lab (https://(Use the "Apply for this Job" box below).) studies the chemical regulation of nuclear xenobiotic receptors and the mechanism of selective modulation of highly homologous drug‑metabolizing enzymes. The lab develops chemical probes, investigates biological mechanisms, and evaluates in vivo efficacy using the promiscuous pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) as models.

PXR and CAR transcriptionally regulate cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and CYP3A5, enzymes that metabolize more than 50% of clinical drugs. Dysregulation of these enzymes contributes to drug toxicity and drug resistance. Recent breakthroughs include the first selective PXR antagonist, discovery that PXR and CAR form an unexpected heterodimer, an expanded ligand binding pocket in PXR, and the first CYP3A5‑selective inhibitor.

A postdoctoral research associate will work in a multidisciplinary team of biologists, medicinal chemists, and structural biologists. Responsibilities include characterizing novel chemical probes (small‑molecule inhibitors or degraders) in biochemical/biophysical, cellular, and animal models; contributing to or leading research projects; and preparing manuscripts for publication. Researchers will be trained in manuscript and grant writing and encouraged (but not required) to prepare and submit grant proposals.

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