NMR Senior Scientist in Blue Sky Protein Kinases

We are looking for an experienced NMR spectroscopist to participate in our study of the human kinome. This Senior Scientist position is part of the Blue Sky Initiative “Seeing the Invisible in Protein Kinases” at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.

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At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, we know what can be achieved when the brightest scientific minds face the fewest barriers. That’s why we provide world-class facilities. State-of-the-art technologies. Extraordinary support. And a collaborative, bench-to-bedside environment where you can see, firsthand, how your science translates into survival for the children we serve. Quite simply, at St. Jude, we encourage you to dream big and stop at nothing when it comes to finding cures and saving children. 

As a member of the NMR spectroscopy team, the candidate will study large and dynamic protein kinases and oligomers by solution NMR spectroscopy. The candidate will work to elucidate functional and mechanistic determinants of protein kinase activity by both NMR and a vast array of biophysical and biochemical methodologies. The candidate will work in a fast-paced multidisciplinary environment closely interacting with the biochemists, cell biologists, and computational chemists to interpret the results, formulate hypothesis, design and coordinate sample preparation and workflow. The unparalleled NMR center at St. Jude includes three 600 MHz, two 700 MHz, four 800 MHz, 850 MHz, and 1.1 GHz. The research activity will be supported by Blue Sky Initiative.

The Blue Sky Initiative “Seeing the Invisible in Protein Kinases” is an inter-disciplinary project in the Department of Structural Biology and is supported by US $50 million in institutional funding. This large-scale project leverages ultra-high field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), complemented with cryoEM, X-ray crystallography, data-science and computational approaches, to characterize the conformational landscape of the human kinome. Knowledge of the conformations of kinases is then used to understand the structural and functional consequences of disease-associated mutations and identify novel therapeutic opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct NMR experiments/projects independently under the overall direction of supervisor.
• Manage construct design, NMR data collection, chemical shift assignment, solution structure determination, and dynamics studies independently.
• Structure calculations and refinement using solution state NMR data
• Analysis of CEST relaxation profiles.
• Critically evaluate viability of kinase for dynamics and/or structural studies.
• Work closely with team specialists to interpret data and formulate hypothesis that advance the research goals.
• Train, assist and oversee the work of junior colleagues in all aspects of NMR- related projects.
• Independently troubleshoot, solve difficult problems, and propose solutions related to research project design and execution.
• Work efficiently and effectively in a collaborative and multidisciplinary team environment in full accordance with St. Jude institutional values.

Ideal Candidate:

• Extensive experience in applying NMR techniques in characterization of the structure and dynamics of large proteins, including backbone and methyl assignment methodologies.
• Experience in using both automated and manual methods for NMR chemical shift assignment.
• Experience in performing characterization of protein dynamics using CEST.
• Proficient in NMR data processing.
• Experienced in NMR structure calculation and refinement.
• Highly motivated and detail oriented with excellent communications skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, with an ability to embrace change and multi-task in an extremely fast-paced environment.

Additional preferred skills:

• Understand and interpret a variety multidisciplinary biochemical/biophysical data.
• Proficiency in using a variety of NMR processing and analysis software including nmrPipe, nmr-fam Sparky/Poky, Bruker TopSpin, and CYANA.
• Proficient in Alphafold, Molecular Dynamics, and structure refinement techniques such as Amber, CNS etc.
• Experiences in assignment of highly deuterated methyl labeled proteins using MAGIC and other algorithms.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Ba