Postdoctoral Associate - Badran Lab - Chemistry

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Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top‑ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program.

Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Cali ‑Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe.

If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.

Postdoctoral Associate

Dr. Ahmed H. Badran’s laboratory at Scripps Research seeks to hire 3-4 highly motivated Postdoctoral Associates. The Badran Lab aims to address technical shortcomings in conserved cellular processes through innovative synthetic/chemical biology, directed evolution, genome editing and bioengineering approaches. Specifically, we aspire to develop tools for accelerating the evolution of macromolecular biosynthetic machinery and whole organisms. The recruited postdoctoral scholar(s) will lead diverse projects in the following areas:

• Targeted antibiotics discovery for microbiome regulation;
• Prediction of antimicrobial resistance modalities;
• Comprehensive strategies for genetic code expansion;
• Improving carbon fixation through RuBisCO directed evolution;
• Development of polymerases for xeno nucleic acid amplification

The postdoctoral scholar would lead efforts towards the creation of robust circuits to detect cellular metabolites, develop tools to limit crosstalk between host processes and researcher‑dictated metabolic functions, and implement these designed sensors in directed evolution experiments to afford novel metabolic pathways. This position will also include optimizing existing and developing improved methods for directed evolution, and rigorous troubleshooting of synthetic designs.

All inquiries should include an updated CV and a brief introduction directed to ahbadran. Make Scripps Research your next step to advance your research training.  to learn more about our Postdoctoral Program and Services: (Use the "Apply for this Job" box below). Postdoctoral Associates are appointed positions for the purpose of developing scholarly competence, working under the supervision of a Scripps Research Faculty member. These appointments are normally not renewed beyond a total of five years.

Postdoctoral Associates cannot apply for external funding either as a Principal Investigator or Co‑Principal Investigator without prior approval from a Departmental Chair. Postdoctoral Associates do not have consulting privileges.

• In-depth understanding of nucleic acid and protein biochemistry
• Prior experience with protein/RNA bioengineering, experimental synthetic biology, molecular biology, bacterial genetics, mammalian tissue culture and assay development are all preferred but not absolutely necessary; any exceptionally creative and driven scientist interested in joining our team will be thoroughly considered
• Strong oral and written communication, data documentation, and presentation skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects at the same time
• Excellent collaborative and interpersonal skills
• Successful record of scientific publications in peer‑reviewed journals

• Doctoral degree in chemical biology, chemistry, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology or related field; a pending doctoral degree will be considered with approval of the Principal Investigator

Postdoctoral…