Postdoctoral Research Associate – Gibson (Cell & Molecular Biology) and Skiniotis (Structural Biology) Laboratories

The Gibson and Skiniotis research groups invite applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate to lead a joint effort to uncover fundamental mechanisms of higher-order genome organization.

We seek an ambitious postdoctoral scholar that will use cryo-electron microscopy and tomography (cryo-EM/cryo-ET) to analyze chromatin structures within both cells and condensed chromatin assemblies produced in vitro. Candidates will benefit from two world-class training environments and learn modern concepts and techniques in both chromatin biochemistry and biophysics as well as structural analyses using cryogenic electron microscopy. We are seeking a dedicated scientist with a track record of success and a thoughtful and collaborative mindset to drive high-impact projects at the interface of chromatin biology, condensate biophysics, and genome structure.

Dual-Mentorship Training Environment

This position is co-mentored, with the fellow holding a home in both laboratories and full membership in both groups, including joint lab meetings, shared project planning, and co-authored publications.

The Gibson laboratory (Department of Cell & Molecular Biology) studies how phase transitions guide higher-order genome structure and impact human disease, combining chromatin biochemistry, quantitative condensate biophysics, cellular engineering, genomics, and advanced microscopy. The fellow will gain hands-on expertise in nucleosome array reconstitution, chromatin condensate formation and characterization, and the thermodynamic frameworks that connect sequence-level molecular grammar to genome-scale organization.

The Skiniotis laboratory (Department of Structural Biology) is internationally recognized for cryo-EM studies of macromolecular signaling complexes, and Dr. Skiniotis serves as founding director of the St. Jude Center of Excellence for Structural Cell Biology (COE-SCB), which advances multiscale imaging technologies for cells and tissues. The fellow will receive rigorous training in single-particle cryo-EM and in situ cryo-ET, from sample vitrification through high-resolution reconstruction and subtomogram averaging.

Very few training environments in the world offer this combination: deep expertise in chromatin and condensate biochemistry alongside frontier structural cell biology, on a single campus, with dedicated institutional support. A fellow who completes this training will emerge with an exceptionally rare and sought-after skill set spanning reconstitution biochemistry, condensate biophysics, and cellular structural biology, positioning them to launch an independent program at the leading edge of genome organization research.

The Center of Excellence for Structural Cell Biology (COE-SCB)

The COE-SCB was established to move structural biology beyond the test tube and visualize macromolecular machines directly within their native cellular context. Working within the Center and the St. Jude Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Tomography Center, the fellow will have access to:

• Multiple high-end transmission electron microscopes, including a 300 keV Titan Krios G4 with cold field emission source (among the world's highest-resolution instruments) and Titan Krios and Talos Arctica platforms equipped with K3 direct electron detectors and BioQuantum energy filters, plus a Talos L120C for rapid screening

• A complete cryo-ET workflow for in situ structural biology, including cryo-focused ion beam (FIB) milling, correlative cryo-light/electron microscopy, and volume EM approaches under active expansion within the Center

• Full sample preparation infrastructure (Vitrobot Mark IV, Leica EM GP2, plasma cleaning, glow discharge)

• Dedicated GPU workstations and clusters with institutional data infrastructure for high-throughput image processing

• Embedded staff scientists who provide consultation, hands-on training, and mentorship in every step of the workflow, with instrument access and expenses covered institutionally so that science, not cost, sets the pace

Position Responsibilities

• Design and execute experiments to reconstitute and characterize condensed chromatin assemblies in vitro

• Prepare cryo-EM and cryo-ET specimens of chromatin assemblies and cells, including cryo-FIB milling for in situ tomography

• Collect, process, and interpret single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-ET/subtomogram averaging datasets

• Integrate structural findings with biochemical, biophysical, and cellular data to build mechanistic models of genome organization

• Present research at national and international meetings and prepare high-impact publications

• Contribute to the collaborative scientific life of both laboratories and mentor junior trainees

Minimum Education and/or Training

• PhD (or MD/PhD) in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, cell biology, or a related field, completed or expected at the time of appointment

Special Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

Required:

• A record of research productivity, including first-author publication(s) or preprint(s)

• Hands-on experience in at least one of the following: cryo-EM/cryo-ET, chromatin or nucleic acid–protein biochemistry, or quantitative biophysics of macromolecular assemblies

• A passion for rigorous, mechanism-driven science and a thoughtful, collaborative mindset

• Excellent written and oral communication skills

Preferred:

• Experience with nucleosome or chromatin reconstitution

• Experience with cryo-EM/cryo-ET data processing (e.g., RELION, cryoSPARC, IMOD, Warp/M)

• Familiarity with scripting or programming for image analysis (Python, MATLAB, or similar)

Compensation and Benefits: Among the Best Available to Postdocs Anywhere

St. Jude offers postdoctoral fellows one of the strongest support packages in academic science, and fellows are not required to bring their own funding:

• Competitive salary exceeding the NIH scale, starting at $72,529 and increasing with experience

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance at $0 premium for individual coverage

• 401(b) retirement plan with a 7% institutional contribution

• $2,500 annual professional development allowance for meetings, training, and society memberships

• Relocation assistance ($8,000 for moves over 100 miles)

• Individualized career development through the SMaRT (Strategic Milestones and Research Training) Plan, the CAP career advancement fellowship, teaching opportunities at partner institutions, and dedicated career advising

• On-campus childcare access (Bright Horizons), free state-of-the-art fitness center, generous paid time off, and a provided laptop

• A vibrant, well-organized postdoc community with social programming, seminars, and institutional fellowships

Life in Memphis

Memphis offers big-city amenities with a cost of living far below that of most major research hubs, and Tennessee has no state income tax on wages. A postdoc salary goes remarkably far here. The city is home to a world-famous music and food culture, professional sports, beautiful running and biking routes along the Mississippi River, and a warm, welcoming community. The St. Jude campus sits minutes from downtown, and fellows consistently cite quality of life as one of the best parts of training here.

About St. Jude

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a world leader in understanding, treating, and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, pairing academic freedom with exceptional institutional resources in service of a singular mission: Finding cures. Saving children. Postdoctoral fellows work alongside internationally recognized faculty with access to more than a dozen state-of-the-art shared resources and data platforms, including St. Jude Cloud, which shares data and discoveries with the global research community.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit (1) a cover letter describing research experience, interests, and motivation for this joint position, (2) a curriculum vitae, and (3) contact information for three references to Dr. Bryan Gibson ([bryan.gibson@stjude.org]) and Dr. Georgios Skiniotis ([georgios.skiniotis@stjude.org]), and apply through the St. Jude Careers portal (talent.stjude.org). Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

We are committed to a human-centered hiring experience. Technology may support portions of our process, but recruiting decisions involve human review and engagement. Learn more about our approach to AI.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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