Postdoctoral Research Associate - Structural Biology - Sun lab

We are seeking a highly motivated and creative postdoctoral fellow to join the Sun lab in the Department of Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The project focuses on structure-based drug discovery projects in the lab. This is an exceptional opportunity to work at the forefront of structural biology and drug discovery in a highly collaborative, well‑resourced environment with access to state‑of‑the‑art cryo‑EM facilities.

Job Responsibilities

• Independently design, execute, troubleshoot, and interpret experiments in structural biology, biochemistry, and cell biology
• Perform protein complex expression/purification (mammalian and insect systems), cryo-EM sample preparation, data collection, and high-resolution structure determination to understand the working mechanism of small molecules
• Conduct functional assays in mammalian cells and animal models to study pharmacology of novel small molecules
• Rapidly learn and integrate new techniques as the project evolves
• Maintain detailed records, analyze data, prepare manuscripts, and present results at lab meetings and scientific conferences
• Work collaboratively with team members and external collaborators while taking ownership of sub-projects

Minimum Education and Experience

• Ph.D. in biochemistry, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, pharmacology, chemical biology or a closely related field
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Strong publication record with at least one first-author paper in a peer-reviewed journal

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior hands‑on experience with single-particle cryo‑EM (sample prep, data processing, model building) is a plus
• Expertise in protein expression/purification
• Background in chemical biology will be a plus
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Enthusiasm for mentoring junior lab members and contributing to a positive, supportive lab culture

What We Offer

• competitive salary (paid at or above national postdoctoral scales)
• full benefits (healthcare with minimal or no premiums)
• retirement contributions
• paid parental leave
• tuition reimbursement
• relocation support
• access to world‑class core facilities (Cryo‑EM Center, Protein Production, Cell & Tissue Imaging, etc.)
• unlimited computational resources
• dedicated professional development funding

St. Jude is consistently ranked among Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” and is a top destination for postdoctoral training.

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St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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