Biochemistry Postdoctoral Research Fellow Positions

Resources for prospective applicants

Investigators seeking applicants

Manny Ascano

Postdoctoral Associate Position in the RNA Regulatory Processes that govern Viral Host-Pathogen Interactions

About Us:

The Ascano Laboratory at the Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, is actively seeking a highly motivated and talented Postdoctoral Research Associate to join our dynamic team. Our research program is centered on unraveling the intricate molecular mechanisms that govern the interactions between host cells and pathogens, with a particular focus on RNA regulatory processes during viral infections. More information about us can be found at: https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/ascano-lab/

Research Focus:

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in two key areas:

Roles and Coordination of RNA-Binding Proteins:

Investigate the functions of RNA-binding proteins in regulating gene expression during innate immune activation and viral infection.
Explore how different RNA viruses associate with cellular RNA-binding proteins to exploit host RNA metabolic pathways.

Virus Assembly and Extracellular Vesicle (EV) Assembly:

Explore the relationship between virus and extracellular vesicle (EV) assembly, with a focus on RNA metabolic processes.
Investigate how RNA regulatory pathways influence the assembly, release, and uptake of both viruses and EVs.

Qualifications:

We are seeking highly motivated individuals with a Ph.D. degree and a strong background in RNA biology and/or innate immunity, with preference given to those with computational experience. Our laboratory comprises an interdisciplinary group interested in examining RNA post-transcriptional mechanisms in innate immunity and host-viral pathogen interactions. We utilize biochemical, virological, immunological, and molecular and cell biological tools with high-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic technologies to answer fundamental questions on how gene expression is regulated at the RNA level during periods of innate immune activation and viral infection. We have funding available to support this postdoctoral position.

Application Process:

Interested candidates should submit a CV, a cover letter detailing research interests and accomplishments, and contact information for three references to manuel.ascano@vanderbilt.edu. We encourage candidates from diverse backgrounds to apply. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity employer.

Ray Blind

Greetings! The fabulous Blind Lab is looking for a recent PhD who would like to continue their training in structural biology, specifically in X-ray crystallography and/or integrative structural approaches to studying how small molecules and lipids regulate nuclear receptor structure. We also study a kinase and have several other structural projects I’m more than happy to run through with you. The ideal candidate is a recent or soon-to-be PhD with strong enthusiasm for science exploration. We have a very healthy, happy group that is extremely diverse scientifically. We are multidisciplinary to the bone! Postdocs currently in the lab have done their PhDs in rainbow trout microbiome genomics, DNA crystallography, yeast DNA-repair and bile acid mass spectrometry method development. We also have a 2nd year PhD student, 2 RAs, a postbac and 7 undergrads running around helping out! If you’re interested, send me an email at ray.blind@vanderbilt.edu with your CV. If you’re doubting your fit, take a shot and send me your CV! I got my first postdoc with my first choice PI with ZERO papers, just good letters of rec. If it can happen to me, it can happen to you!

Website:
https://www.blindlab.org/

Papers:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=blind+r

Breann Brown

Postdoctoral research position to study the molecular and structural basis for eukaryotic heme biosynthesis. The Brown lab focuses on using structural biology to understand how defects in macromolecular protein assembly underlie mitochondrial diseases. Specifically, we are recruiting for a postdoc to study a high-risk, high-reward project focused on understanding dynamics of protein assembly governing heme metabolism. In addition to structural biology, the laboratory also employs a wide range of biochemical and biophysical techniques to discern molecular mechanisms, including mass spectrometry, enzyme assays, and various binding assays. Successful applicants will have a foundation in cell biology and structural biology (X-ray crystallography, NMR, cryo-EM) with further opportunities for proteomics and metabolomics. For more information, please visit the Brown Laboratory website (https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/brown-lab/)

Bruce Carter

The Carter lab is seeking a postdoctoral fellow to explore the role of the phagocytic receptor, Jedi1, in the developing nervous system. In particular, the project involves exploring Jedi1 activation, signaling and regulation of expression in microglial cells in the perinatal brain. For more information, please see our website: https://www.brucecarterlab.com/index.html.

Walter Chazin

Postdoctoral positions in the Chazin laboratory (https://my.vanderbilt.edu/chazinlab/) are open for highly motivated biologists, biochemists, or structural biologists. The Chazin laboratory uses integrative structural biology (Cryo-EM, crystallography, NMR, SAXS, and modeling) combined with functional analysis with the goals of defining the mechanisms of action of cellular protein machinery, determining the relationship to disease, and evaluating their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention. These positions provide an excellent opportunity to become experienced in the integrated applications of advanced structural/dynamics and chemical biology methods at the cutting edge of genome maintenance or infectious disease medicine and biology. Projects in the area of genome maintenance and cancer include understanding the translational potential of inhibition of nucleotide excision repair and elucidating mechanisms for replication fork remodeling. Projects in the area of innate immune response and inflammation in infectious disease include investigating the roles of calprotectin in nutritional immunity and in inflammation signaling via cell surface receptors. Applicants will work in multi-disciplinary teams with an extensive network of collaborators focused on fundamental biology and clinical applications, and will be encouraged to develop their leadership potential. The Chazin laboratory excels at fostering the achievements so that each group member achieves their full potential and attains their career objectives. To apply, send a cover letter and a CV to walter.chazin@vanderbilt.edu

David Cortez

The Cortez lab is dedicated to understanding the mechanisms that maintain genome integrity, how defects in these pathways cause diseases including cancer, and how we can use this information in therapeutic strategies. Current projects in the lab include: (1) identification and characterization of new replication stress response proteins; (2) functional studies on how the genotoxin responses controlled by the HMCES protein maintain genome stability and prevent disease; (3) mechanistic studies of replication-coupled DNA repair and damage tolerance; (4) analysis of DNA damage signaling and cell cycle checkpoint pathways controlled by the ATR kinase; and (5) development of cancer therapeutic approaches targeting the DNA damage response. For more information visit https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/cortez-lab/

Brandt Eichman

Research in the Eichman lab is focused on the mechanisms by which DNA processing proteins maintain integrity of the genome. We determine the structures and functions of enzymes and macromolecular complexes that operate at the DNA replication-repair interface using a combination of cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, biochemistry, and biophysical methods. Current projects focus on mechanisms of (1) replication fork reversal, (2) regulation of replication-repair pathways by ubiquitin ligase machinery, (3) protection of abasic sites during replication, (4) initiation of DNA replication, (5) DNA glycosylase mediated interstrand DNA crosslink repair, and (6) DNA glycosylases involved in bacterial antibiotic resistance and pathogenesis. Projects are collaborative and multidisciplinary, providing trainees with experience in structural cell biology, genetics, and chemical biology. Applicants should have a strong interest in genome maintenance biology. Experience in structural biology and/or mechanistic biochemistry is preferred but not required. To apply, email CV, cover letter detailing research interests and career goals, reprints of recent publications, and names of 3 references to brandt.eichman@vanderbilt.edu. For more information visit https://structbio.vanderbilt.edu/eichman/ and https://structbio.vanderbilt.edu/eichman/pdf/postdoc_advert_Eichman-2024-1.pdf

Stephen Fesik

Dr. Fesik has a multi-disciplinary group and currently has 3 open postdoc positions listed on the Fesik Lab website at https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/fesik-lab/open-positions/.

POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY (Crystallography) The Fesik Lab at Vanderbilt University has an immediate opening for a talented and accomplished protein X-ray crystallographer to join our group as postdoctoral research fellow. The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in structural biology or a related field and strong experience with protein expression, purification, and co-crystal structure determination. Any NMR experience is a plus.
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY The Fesik Lab at Vanderbilt University has an immediate opening for a talented and accomplished synthetic chemist to join our group as postdoctoral research fellow. The ideal candidates will have a Ph.D. in synthetic organic chemistry with extensive training in synthetic methodology and/or total synthesis. We use fragment-based screening and structure-based design to discover small molecule inhibitors for important oncology targets. Postdoctoral chemists in our group have the opportunity to learn and apply cutting edge approaches to drug design and synthesize analogs of hit molecules to improve binding affinity to a protein target and then to optimize the pharmaceutical properties of these molecules.

F. Peter Guengerich

The Guengerich laboratory is interested in the structures and functions of enzymes involved in the activation and processing of xenobiotic chemicals (i.e., those not normally found in the body, e.g. drugs and carcinogens), as well as steroids and vitamins. More specifically, we are studying mechanisms of oxidations catalyzed by human P450s and also polymerase interactions with carcinogen-modified DNA. More than 140 postdocs have trained in this laboratory and have gone on to careers in teaching, academic research, and the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. See https://my.vanderbilt.edu/guengerichlab/.

Scott Hiebert

The Hiebert lab is using chemical-genetic approaches to define the molecular mechanisms by which oncogenic transcription factors cause cancer. We are using CRISPRs in conjunction with homology directed DNA repair to insert degron and epitope tags into the endogenous loci of key oncogenes. We couple rapid degradation of the endogenous factor (within 1-2hr) with genomic analysis of nascent transcription to define the immediate and direct targets of these transcription factors. We then we intersect cutting-edge genomic approaches (e.g. PRO-seq, CUT&RUN, ATAC-seq, RNA-seq) with rapid purification and proteomic analysis of the associated chromatin-modifying complexes to define the mechanism of transcriptional control. We also use engineered mouse models to translate our in vitro hypotheses to in vivo models. We believe that this provides an exceptional training environment to prepare you for the next steps in your career. https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/hiebert-lab/

Tina Iverson

The Iverson laboratory (https://lab.vanderbilt.edu/iverson-lab/) seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher who is interested in the molecular mechanisms that underlie information transfer in mammals or bacteria. Applicants are expected to be highly independent and reasonably autonomous such that they can responsible for contributing to research projects with minimal supervision. Experience in at least one biochemical, biophysical, or structural technique is essential; training in additional techniques will be available. The position will require the applicant to draft both manuscripts and funding proposals, which will in turn require a deep knowledge of the relevant literature. Successful applicants must also be able to work well with collaborators and members of the team. In the latter capacity, they will be expected to train junior laboratory members and will act as the immediate supervisor to at least one research assistant. Finally, successful applicants will be expected to display leadership in the laboratory ad contribute to the mission of the university. Strong organizational skills, the ability to work well with a range of personalities, and attention to detail are important for these functions.

Bill Tansey

The Tansey Laboratory at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is recruiting post-doctoral fellows for multiple NCI-funded projects to study the mechanisms of action of the MYC family of oncoprotein transcription factors. The long-term goals of this work are to understand the actions of MYC on chromatin and its interaction with tumor-critical transcriptional co-factors, and to leverage these discoveries to develop new ways of targeting MYC in the clinic. More information about the laboratory environment and our current research efforts is available at tanseylab.com.