A postdoc has become available for a multidisciplinary, collaborative project that exploits targeted protein degradation (TPD) of pediatric cancer targets using Molecular Glues (MG). TPD is an exciting and rapidly evolving drug discovery paradigm that shows great promise for drugging currently undruggable targets. In this recently funded 5-year project we are developing novel MG approaches to target key transcription factor dependencies in high-risk childhood acute leukemia and medulloblastoma.
They are looking for highly motivated, brilliant minds with curiosity and skills to contribute structural biology insights that shed light on MG interactions with ternary complexes of neosubstrates such as oncogenic transcription factors. Such insights will aid target characterization, MG hit optimization, structure-guided molecular design, all the way to preclinical validation and subsequent clinical translation. These structural biology efforts are integrated into a highly collaborative environment comprised of chemists and pathologists, as well as computational biologists, systems biologists and experimental in vitro/ in vivo biologists that work closely together toward the common goal of improving childhood cancer outcomes.
The project is housed in the Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics, and Structural Biology at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. It builds on strong investments into a world-class infrastructure in structural and chemical biology. This is an exciting time to join us and build a career while living in an affordable city. This postdoc position is funded for 5 years.
Essential requirements:
- PhD in structural biology
- Independence in gene-to-structure workflow
o Demonstrated proficiency in molecular biology, construct design, protein biochemistry, expression (including insect cells), purification, reconstitution and structural determination of ternary complexes
- Strong background in X-ray crystallography
o automation, optimization, crystallization robotics; synchrotron data collection
o structural analyses, representation and integration with other biophysical data
Optional requirements:
- Experience in cryoEM, xFEL or microED
- Experience with computational approaches and in silico modelling is desired
Please direct your questions and application package including a cover letter, current CV, and 3 letters of reference to: Dr. Marcus Fischer (marcus.fischer@stjude.org).
