Wet Lab Scientist - Ligand Discovery

Join an excellent team of researchers dedicated to coming closer to the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, that no child will die at the dawn of life. The QAI4Bio (Quantum AI for Biology) Lab led by Dr. Christoph Gorgulla within the Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery in the Structural Biology Department of St. Jude seeks a skilled and highly motivated wet lab Scientist with experience in ligand discovery.

Our research group is focused on developing state-of-the-art computational methods for ligand/drug discovery, using machine learning, high-performance/cloud computing, quantum chemistry and quantum computing. Our lab also includes a wet lab dedicated to experimentally verifying the computationally predicted results in real-world drug discovery projects.

As a (wet lab) Scientist, you will play a pivotal role in our team. This position is at the frontier of drug discovery, focusing to a large extend on the experimental validation of protein-ligand interactions. We will be targeting proteins associated with a range of areas, including epigenetic regulation, cancer, and healthy aging/longevity. You will work on producing high-quality proteins, designing and performing binding assays by biophysical methods (SPR, MST, ITC, BLI) or Fluorescence-based (i.e. FP, TR-FRET) methods, and optimizing workflows for ligand discovery. Depending on your skills, you might also work on structural studies (NMR, X-ray, cryo-EM, …) and use the state-of-the-art core facilities and centers dedicated to structural studies at St. Jude. In your role as lab manager you will be in charge of the day-to-day operations of the wet lab. Our lab is new, and you will be the first full-time team member in our wet lab. In addition, there is the “dry lab” where the computational/theoretical researchers will be located.

In our lab, you will have the opportunity to lead collaborative projects, mentor junior scientists and students, and contribute to high-impact publications. Collaboration is at the heart of our work, and you will closely work with our computational and other wet-lab colleagues to validate and experimentally verify the predicted hit and lead compounds. By working together in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, you will have the opportunity to contribute to multiple ligand/drug discovery projects and make a lasting impact on the lives of children and the world.

Job Responsibilities

• Leading the wet lab experiments of our ligand/drug discovery projects with minimal to moderate supervision.

• Protein Production: Express and purify target proteins of interest, predominantly using bacterial expression systems, and in cases needed insect, or mammalian systems. Ensure production meets quality standards for downstream structural and functional studies.

• Binding Assays: Design and execute ligand-binding experiments, with a focus on biophysical assays and fluorescence-based assays, but also including cell-based assays. Optimize assay conditions for robust and reproducible results.

• Wet Lab Leadership/Management: Manage day-to-day operations of the wet lab. Mentoring and training wet lab members, including postdocs, graduate students, and technicians. Oversee equipment maintenance and inventory of reagents.

• Identify, process, organize, summarize, review, and report relevant data.

• Interacting with computational team members (who will mostly identify the hit and lead compounds computationally).

• Manuscript preparation, submission, and the review process will be part of the responsibilities (under the supervision of the PI), ensuring that the lab’s findings are disseminated to the scientific community.

• Actively collaborate with interdepartmental teams, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex scientific challenges.

• Present research findings to internal and external audiences (e.g. conferences), contributing to the hospital’s mission of advancing pediatric research.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant scientific area is required.

Minimum Experience:

• Eight (8) years of relevant work experience is required with a Bachelor's degree.

• Six (6) years of relevant work experience is required with a Master's degree.

• Three (3) years of relevant work experience is required with a PhD.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a world-class research institution dedicated to pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Our 300 faculty work across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and population science in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment that includes a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. St. Jude is ranked on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma” and Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work”. St. Jude is one of the best-funded research institutes in the US with an annual budget of over $2 billion per year (https://www.stjude.org/about-st-jude/financials.html).

What We Will Offer You

Working at St. Jude is a remarkable experience in many ways, and you will be provided with many special perks.

• Mission and Purpose: At St. Jude, working is more than just a job — it’s a calling. Each member of St. Jude is united by a shared purpose: finding cures and saving children. In addition to the meaningful work you will undertake, we offer a range of perks to enhance your experience.

• Community and Belonging: St. Jude is like a warm family that welcomes you, to a large part because it is a Children’s hospital.

• The Best of Both Worlds – Industry and Academia: St. Jude provides academic freedom in research and industrial efficiency and resources. We have access to world-class shared resources/facilities led by expert scientists, coupled with state-of-the-art technology and funding, accelerating research productivity.

• World-Class Benefits: St. Jude offers a world-class benefits package (https://www.stjude.org/jobs/hospital/benefits.html). Enjoy comprehensive healthcare, a competitive salary, tuition assistance for continued education, and exceptional work-life balance with ample paid time off.

• Professional Growth: You will have access to opportunities to enhance your professional growth in terms of scientific skills, soft skills, and your career (St. Jude has well defined career path).

• Diversity: St. Jude is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and diverse scientific community, where everyone’s contributions are valued. More information is available here.

• Competitive Compensation: Embark on your journey with a competitive salary (depending on experience) comprehensive benefits and generous relocation assistance, reflecting our commitment to recognize and invest in talent. Furthermore, in Memphis/Tennessee, there is no income tax.

• Top Employer: St. Jude was among the top 10 large employers in the US in 2024, ahead of Google, Microsoft and Apple: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-large-employers/?sh=70605b987b66 . Top Employer for Women: St. Jude is also among the top 10 employers for women in the US: https://www.forbes.com/lists/best-employers-women/ . St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is high school and college students’ top “dream employer,” according to the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) 2018 Career Interest Survey. https://www.hrdive.com/news/st-judes-tops-list-of-students-dream-employers/526201/ .

• Personalized Guidance: Dr. Gorgulla is committed to providing hands-on mentorship tailored to your needs and career aspirations. Whether you are refining scientific techniques or soft skills, you will have his full support.

• Modern Buildings and Spaces: Our research group and wet lab is located in the newest building of the compus, the Inspiration 4 – Advanced Research Center, that cost of $400 million to construct.

• Additional Perks: St. Jude offers many special perks, such as an on-site gym, an employee pharmacy, and many others. To learn more about the unexpected perks of working at St. Jude, visit our website at https://www.stjude.org/jobs/hospital/talent-talks/10-unexpected-perks-of-working-at-st-jude.html

About Memphis

St. Jude is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food, and culture. Living in Memphis provides several unique advantages, including:

• Breathtaking Nature: Memphis provides unique nature and scenery, such as the Mississippi (the largest river in the US) or Shelby Farms Park, with which 4,500 acres is one of the largest urban parks in the country. See https://www.memphistravel.com/sports-outdoors for more details.

• Its Culture: It is for instance the home of Elvis Presley. See https://www.memphistravel.com/arts-culture for more details on the cultural aspects.

• It’s Affordability: Memphis is one of the most affordable cities in the US, meaning the same income will bring you farther than in other places in the US (for more details, see https://www.moneycrashers.com/most-affordable-cities-live/).

For a video with testimonials about how new St. Jude members experienced Memphis, see here: https://www.stjude.org/education-training/support-for-clinical-trainees/relocation-to-memphis.html

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $86,320 - $154,960 per year for the role of Wet Lab Scientist - Ligand Discovery.

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