St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Cell Assay Lead/Senior Scientist - Blue Sky Kinases
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, us, 37544
Cell Assay Lead/Senior Scientist – Blue Sky Kinases
Join St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Blue Sky Initiative “Seeing the Invisible in Protein Kinases” as a senior scientist who translates novel kinome insights into functional cellular effects. You will design, optimize, and validate cell‑based assays that probe kinase signaling, regulation, and therapeutic potential.
Overview The Cell-Based Assays team uses molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell culture to explore kinase structure‑function relationships. Your work will bridge structural findings with phenotypic readouts, discover new kinase biology, and support drug‑development projects.
Responsibilities
Research kinase signaling pathways, phosphorylation events, and cellular outcomes for assigned kinase projects.
Identify appropriate cellular assays and cell lines to evaluate structure‑guided perturbations in kinase regulation or function.
Develop and implement cell‑based assays for protein phosphorylation, protein interaction, protein localization, RNA abundance (qRT‑PCR), protein ubiquitination, and protein abundance.
Develop and implement phenotypic assays for viability, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, or differentiation.
Optimize and troubleshoot cell‑based assays and perform statistical analysis using graphing software or R scripts.
Interpret, analyze, and communicate cell‑based assay results within the Cell‑Based Assays team and with collaborators on specific kinase projects.
Qualifications and Experience
Experience analyzing protein kinases and phosphorylation‑dependent signaling pathways.
Expertise in culturing diverse cell types, including cancer cell lines, primary cells, mouse embryo fibroblasts, inducible human pluripotent cells, immune cells, neuronal cells, and muscle cells.
Expertise in exogenous protein expression methods.
Proficiency in presenting experimental design and results using PowerPoint or similar software.
Experience with mouse models preferred but not essential.
Technical Capabilities
Cloning, PCR, and qRT‑PCR
Sterile technique
Cell transfection, transduction, or infection to exogenously express proteins of interest transiently or for cell line generation
Quantitative immunoassays: ELISA, AlphaLISA, and Mesoscale Discovery
Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting
Protein‑protein interaction analysis: proximity ligation, FRET, or NanoBit assays
Flow cytometry and fluorescence‑activated cell sorting (FACS)
Reporter gene assays
Phenotypic assays: viability, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, colony‑forming, autophagy, endocytosis, secretion, or differentiation assays
Microscopy: immunofluorescence, live‑cell imaging, subcellular localization, colocalization analysis
Cellular fractionation
Competencies
Creative and results‑driven with strong critical thinking and rapid learning.
Hardworking, well‑organized, flexible, and capable of multitasking efficiently in a fast‑paced environment.
Collaborative and efficient team member with diverse backgrounds and opinions.
Prioritizes work and completes assignments promptly.
Minimum Experience
For Senior Scientist: 10+ years relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 8+ years with a Master’s degree, or 5+ years with a PhD.
For Lead Scientist: 12+ years relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 10+ years with a Master’s degree, or 7+ years with a PhD.
Compensation Estimated salary range: $125,840 – $238,160 per year for the Role of Cell Assay Lead/Senior Scientist – Blue Sky Kinases. Actual compensation will be based on experience, skills, and organization needs.
Benefits
World‑class facilities and state‑of‑the‑art technologies.
Extraordinary institutional support.
Collaborative bench‑to‑bedside environment.
Generous paid time off, health, and retirement benefits.
Work‑life balance with on‑campus conveniences.
EEO Statement St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and provide a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
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Overview The Cell-Based Assays team uses molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell culture to explore kinase structure‑function relationships. Your work will bridge structural findings with phenotypic readouts, discover new kinase biology, and support drug‑development projects.
Responsibilities
Research kinase signaling pathways, phosphorylation events, and cellular outcomes for assigned kinase projects.
Identify appropriate cellular assays and cell lines to evaluate structure‑guided perturbations in kinase regulation or function.
Develop and implement cell‑based assays for protein phosphorylation, protein interaction, protein localization, RNA abundance (qRT‑PCR), protein ubiquitination, and protein abundance.
Develop and implement phenotypic assays for viability, apoptosis, autophagy, migration, or differentiation.
Optimize and troubleshoot cell‑based assays and perform statistical analysis using graphing software or R scripts.
Interpret, analyze, and communicate cell‑based assay results within the Cell‑Based Assays team and with collaborators on specific kinase projects.
Qualifications and Experience
Experience analyzing protein kinases and phosphorylation‑dependent signaling pathways.
Expertise in culturing diverse cell types, including cancer cell lines, primary cells, mouse embryo fibroblasts, inducible human pluripotent cells, immune cells, neuronal cells, and muscle cells.
Expertise in exogenous protein expression methods.
Proficiency in presenting experimental design and results using PowerPoint or similar software.
Experience with mouse models preferred but not essential.
Technical Capabilities
Cloning, PCR, and qRT‑PCR
Sterile technique
Cell transfection, transduction, or infection to exogenously express proteins of interest transiently or for cell line generation
Quantitative immunoassays: ELISA, AlphaLISA, and Mesoscale Discovery
Immunoprecipitation and Western blotting
Protein‑protein interaction analysis: proximity ligation, FRET, or NanoBit assays
Flow cytometry and fluorescence‑activated cell sorting (FACS)
Reporter gene assays
Phenotypic assays: viability, apoptosis, proliferation, migration, colony‑forming, autophagy, endocytosis, secretion, or differentiation assays
Microscopy: immunofluorescence, live‑cell imaging, subcellular localization, colocalization analysis
Cellular fractionation
Competencies
Creative and results‑driven with strong critical thinking and rapid learning.
Hardworking, well‑organized, flexible, and capable of multitasking efficiently in a fast‑paced environment.
Collaborative and efficient team member with diverse backgrounds and opinions.
Prioritizes work and completes assignments promptly.
Minimum Experience
For Senior Scientist: 10+ years relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 8+ years with a Master’s degree, or 5+ years with a PhD.
For Lead Scientist: 12+ years relevant experience with a Bachelor’s degree, 10+ years with a Master’s degree, or 7+ years with a PhD.
Compensation Estimated salary range: $125,840 – $238,160 per year for the Role of Cell Assay Lead/Senior Scientist – Blue Sky Kinases. Actual compensation will be based on experience, skills, and organization needs.
Benefits
World‑class facilities and state‑of‑the‑art technologies.
Extraordinary institutional support.
Collaborative bench‑to‑bedside environment.
Generous paid time off, health, and retirement benefits.
Work‑life balance with on‑campus conveniences.
EEO Statement St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and provide a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
#J-18808-Ljbffr