Postdoctoral Scholar- McNulty Laboratory

Job location: Irvine, CA

About the Role

The McNulty Laboratory within the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine, is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to join an NIH-funded research program in structural immunology and innate immune signaling. The program investigates the molecular recognition, assembly, and regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome complexes using structural, biochemical, and cellular approaches.

This position is ideal for a scientist interested in combining protein biochemistry, structural biology, nucleic acid biochemistry, genome editing, and innate immune signaling to understand the molecular regulation of inflammatory pathways. The candidate will work independently while interacting closely with the Principal Investigator, laboratory team members, and external collaborators.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to project development, experimental design, data collection, interpretation, and dissemination.
• Investigate the molecular basis of inflammasome regulation through integrated protein and nucleic acid biochemistry, quantitative binding and activity assays, genome-edited cell models, and structural analysis of immune signaling complexes.
• Help develop future directions arising from the NIH-funded research program.
• Present and share findings within the laboratory and at local, national, and international conferences.
• Contribute to manuscript preparation and participate in collaborative projects.
• May help mentor junior laboratory members.

Research Areas

• Molecular mechanisms of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and regulation.
• Protein–nucleic acid interactions and enzymatic mechanisms that regulate innate immune signaling.
• Structure-guided mutagenesis and functional characterization of proteins involved in innate immune signaling.
• Biochemical, biophysical, and cell-based assays to characterize molecular interactions, inflammasome assembly, and downstream signaling.
• Genome editing and cellular models to evaluate the functional consequences of mechanistic findings.
• Cryo-EM and complementary structural approaches to investigate innate immune proteins and signaling complexes.

Laboratory Environment

The McNulty Lab is a structural immunology laboratory that uses protein biochemistry, cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, nucleic acid biochemistry, and cell signaling assays to define how innate immune complexes assemble and function. The lab is equipped for molecular biology, mammalian cell culture, protein purification, cryo-EM sample preparation, and biochemical assays. It has access to outstanding departmental and university resources, including cryo-EM instrumentation, mass spectrometry, high-performance computing, and collaborative immunology expertise through UC Irvine and established collaborators.

Requirements

• Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in biochemistry, molecular biology, structural biology, immunology, cell biology, chemical biology, biophysics, or a related field. Ph.D. candidates nearing graduation are encouraged to apply.
• Strong record of research productivity, including at least one first-author or co-first-author publication, preprint, or manuscript in preparation.
• Experience with recombinant protein expression and purification, quantitative biochemical or biophysical assays, mammalian cell culture, molecular cloning, and genome editing.
• Demonstrated ability to manage an independent research project, troubleshoot experiments, learn quickly, and work productively as part of a diverse, collaborative team.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience developing and troubleshooting quantitative biochemical and biophysical assays for protein–nucleic acid interactions, enzymatic activity, and ligand binding.
• Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, mammalian macrophage models, and functional characterization of protein variants using cell-based immune-signaling assays.
• Experience with cryo-EM sample preparation and image processing, macromolecular complex reconstitution, and complementary structural or computational approaches such as X-ray crystallography, structural modeling, or molecular dynamics.
• Experience with biophysical binding assays such as SPR, MST, or BLI.

Benefits

UCI provides excellent support for postdoctoral scholars, including leadership and teaching development, career development, and full benefits. Several childcare services are available on campus.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $69,073 - $82,836. The posted UC salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level. "Off-scale salaries," i.e., a salary higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated experience, may be offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.