Postdoctoral Fellow - Protein Sciences, Ciferri Lab

The Position

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A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available for a highly motivated and independent candidate to join our Protein Sciences - Structural Biology Group at Genentech, under the mentorship of Dr. Claudio Ciferri, Vice President of Protein Sciences. The Fellow will investigate the structure and mechanism of action of critical protein complexes involved in DNA repair and RNA regulation. Our ideal candidate is a self‑motivated researcher who already has specific, independent project ideas they are eager to develop and lead from day one.

The Opportunity:

The Department of Structural Biology within Protein Sciences is a world‑leading research and drug discovery organization focusing on cutting‑edge biomedical questions. You can pursue challenging and important problems that aim to uncover fundamental biological mechanisms that would advance our understanding of human physiology in health and disease. You will have access to fully equipped state‑of‑the‑art facilities, including two Titan Krios & two Glacios microscopes equipped with Direct Detectors and Energy Filters, a virtually unlimited computer cluster for data processing, and you will have the opportunity to be fostered in one of the most productive and scientifically stimulating research environments.

You will be part of Genentech’s post‑doctoral training program that provides an outstanding environment and the opportunity to pursue fundamental basic science questions in an environment focused on drug discovery and breakthrough discoveries.

Who You Are:

• Candidates must have a Ph.D. in structural biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or a related field or be scheduled to receive a Ph.D. by 2026.
• Expertise in protein purification, biophysical characterization, and structure determination of multi‑protein complexes using X‑ray crystallography and/or single‑particle cryo‑EM is required, as evidenced by a strong record of first‑author publications in top peer‑reviewed journals.
• Highly motivated and detail‑oriented researcher, driven to solve complex scientific problems, and able to work both independently and in a collaborative environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills are required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in protein engineering along with biophysical characterization methods for protein‑protein interactions, such as surface‑plasmon resonance (SPR) or bio‑layer interferometry (BLI), will be considered a plus.

More information about the Ciferri Lab:

Relevant Publications:

Yu C et al., (2026). Architecture and function of holocentric CENP‑A‑independent inner kinetochores. Sci Adv. 2026 Jun 19;12(25)

Koo CW et al. (2026). Rad
55‑Rad
57‑SHU paralog complex dynamically promotes Rad
51 filament formation. Mol Cell in Press.

Koo CW et al. (2026). BCDX2‑CX3 and DX2‑CX3 complexes assemble and stabilize RAD
51 filaments. Nature. 2026 May;653(8115):952-961

Kschonsak M. et al., (2023). Cryo‑EM reveals an unprecedented binding site for NaV
1.7 inhibitors enabling rational design of potent hybrid inhibitors. Elife. 2023 Mar 28;12:e84151.

Kschonsak M. et al. (2022). Structural architecture of the human NALCN channelosome. Nature. 2022 Mar;603(7899):180-186

Kschonsak M. et al. (2021). Structures Of HCMV Trimer Reveal The Basis For Receptor Recognition And Cell Entry. Cell. 2021 Mar 4;184(5):.e16.

Kschonsak M. et al. (2020). Structure of the sodium leak channel NALCN. Nature 2020 Jul 22. doi: 10.1038/s41586‑020‑2570‑8

Kumar N. et al. (2020) Structure of the Secretory Immunoglobulin A Core. Science 367(6481):. DOI: 10.1126/science.aaz
5807

Martinez‑Martin et al. (2018). An Unbiased Screen for Human Cytomegalovirus Identifies Neuropilin‑2 as a Central Viral Receptor. Cell. 2018 Aug 23;174(5):

Postdoc Program

Elevate your research career to new heights with Genentech’s Postdoctoral Program! Join a prestigious community of early‑career scientists and kick‑start your journey toward becoming a scientific leader in biotechnology. With competitive salaries and fully funded research expenses, you can dedicate yourself to groundbreaking research that aligns with Genentech strategic…