Postdoctoral Research Associate - Biochemistry

About the role

The Ghanbarpour Laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics at WashU Medicine is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our interdisciplinary research program. Our lab investigates how bacteria and human mitochondria maintain homeostasis and respond to stress and environmental challenges. A central focus of our research is uncovering the molecular mechanisms of ATP-dependent AAA proteolytic machines, both soluble and membrane-spanning, and their accessory factors in bacterial and mitochondrial systems. We study how these complexes assemble, achieve substrate specificity, and promote bacterial recovery from antibiotic stress, environmental changes, and pathogen attack. These efforts combine cryo-EM and cryo-ET structural biology, biochemical and cellular assays, and mass spectrometry. The lab also explores bacterial defense mechanisms against bacteriophage infection, including rewiring of proteolytic systems and the deployment of innate immune strategies that enable survival during phage attack. In addition, another major focus of our research is protein engineering and the development of new molecular tools based on these proteolytic systems.

Responsibilities

• Trains under the supervision of a faculty mentor including (but not limited to): Assists with grant preparation and reporting.
• Prepares and submits papers on research.
• Assists in the design of research experiments.
• Evaluates research findings and assists in the reporting of the results.
• Conscientious discharge of their research responsibilities.
• Maintains conformity with ethical standards in research.
• Maintains compliance with good laboratory practice including the maintenance of adequate research records.
• Engages in open and timely discussion with their mentor regarding possession or distribution of material, reagents, or records belonging to their laboratory and any proposed disclosure of findings or techniques privately or in publications.
• Collegial conduct towards co-trainees, staff members and members of the research group.
• Adheres to all applicable University policies, procedures and regulations.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications: Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.
• Preferred Qualifications: No additional education unless stated elsewhere in the job posting.
• Certifications/Professional Licenses: No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.
• Work Experience: No specific work experience is required for this position.
• Skills: Collaboration, Data Analysis, Data Interpretations, Experimentation, Laboratory Operations, Laboratory Techniques, Researching, Results Reporting, Scientific Writing.

Benefits

Washington University in St. Louis is committed to providing a comprehensive and competitive benefits package to our employees. Benefits eligibility is subject to employment status, full-time equivalent (FTE) workload, and weekly standard hours. Please visit our website at https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/ to view a summary of benefits.