Senior Scientist (Pooled Lentiviral Screening & Method Development)

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Senior Scientist to direct daily laboratory operations and spearhead method development for high-throughput screening that will uncover the therapeutic potential of intrinsically disordered regions. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced molecular biologist to take a leadership role in a collaborative academic environment, supporting a large-scale screening project and pioneering new cell perturbation methodologies. The postholder will oversee the day-to-day operation of the experimental arm of the research group and lead the development of innovative experimental pipelines to advance lentiviral-based screening technologies across diverse biological systems.

The World’s Brightest Minds Always Innovate

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. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive the development of innovative experimental strategies to expand and enhance the existing screening capabilities of the group.
• Manage laboratory operations by coordinating daily activities, maintaining and troubleshooting equipment, and ensuring adherence to institutional regulatory requirements.
• Support the design, optimization, and implementation of pooled lentiviral screening workflows, including peptide inhibitor and base/prime editing platforms.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs), ensure quality control, and promote best laboratory practices.
• Supervise and mentor postdoctoral researchers, research assistants, and students involved in screening projects.
• Engage in collaborative research and contribute to publications, grant proposals, and presentations.

Ideal Candidate:

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Genetics, or a closely related field.
• Extensive experience in CRISPR-based genome engineering in mammalian cell systems.
• Demonstrated expertise in the design, production, and application of lentiviral libraries for large-scale screening.
• Proven track record in developing, implementing, or applying high-throughput genetic perturbation or functional screening approaches.
• Demonstrated ability to manage laboratory operations, including supervision and training of staff or students.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and record-keeping skills.
• Strong problem-solving ability and capacity to work independently as well as collaboratively.

Desirable Attributes:

• Experience with base or prime editing systems.
• Familiarity with large-scale data generation and interpretation in screening contexts.
• Evidence of contributions to collaborative research initiatives or consortia.

About the Research Environment:

The Davey lab has recently joined the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology to launch a research program applying high-throughput screening approaches to uncover the therapeutic potential of intrinsically disordered regions. The postholder will work within a collaborative, supportive team and benefit from world-class core facilities and excellent opportunities for professional development.

What problem are we tackling? Target discovery is a critical foundation of drug development, underpinning efforts to overcome the persistent challenges of drug resistance, emerging pathogens, and complex diseases that lack effective therapies. By uncovering novel proteins and molecular pathways driving disease progression, we can enable the rational design of more selective interventions that reduce off-target effects and improve patient outcomes. The development of tool molecules, coupled with detailed characterization of their inhibitory mechanisms, provides a direct bridge between phenotypic observations and small-molecule drug design, accelerating the translation of basic discoveries into clinically actionable therapies.

What is our approach? Short Linear Motifs (SLiMs) are compact functional modules embedded within the intrinsically disordered regions of proteins. They mediate a wide range of regulatory processes, including the assembly of dynamic complexes, recruitment of modifying enzymes, control of protein stability, and specification of subcellular localization. Despite their central role in cellular regulation, SLiM-binding pockets remain a largely untapped class of therapeutic targets. By applying large scale base-editing and peptide inhibitor studies the project will address three key questions: (i) How essential are SLiM-mediated interactions for cellular fitness? (ii) Does SLiM essentiality differ between healthy and diseased cells? (iii) Can these interactions be selectively targeted for therapeutic intervention?

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree in relevant scientific area is required

Minimum Experience:

• Ten (10) years relevant work experience is required with a Bachelor's degree.
• Eight (8) years of relevant work experience is required with a Master's degree.
• Five (5) years of relevant work experience is required with a PhD.

Better at Work. Better at Life.

When you work at St. Jude, you’ll join a highly collaborative work culture that inspires you every day to be your best.  With opportunities for learning and growth, you can shape a career path that is right for you while also enjoying all the benefits and stability of working for a world-class institution. This includes work-life balance with generous paid time-off and on-campus conveniences that make life a little easier. Join us and you’ll quickly see why St. Jude is consistently ranked by our employees on Glassdoor as a “Best Place to Work.”    

Benefits

Your health and well-being are important to us. That's why St. Jude Children's Research Hospital provides employees with high-quality benefits choices.

We are committed to ensuring our benefits are competitive and affordable. St. Jude continues to cover medical premiums for employees and offers low additional costs for dependents.

View all the benefits offered including Medical & Prescription Drug Plans, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, Financial Security, Retirement Plan, Living Well - Employee Wellness Program, Time Off Programs, Educational Benefits, Family Friendly Benefits, and Benefits Unique to St. Jude. 

Have More in Memphis

Get the best of big-city amenities mixed with all the charm of a small-town feel when you live in Memphis. From our world-renowned music scene to our eclectic mix of food and people. Memphis is a place our employees are proud to call home. Our region enjoys a cost of living more than 20% lower than the national average and our state places no personal income tax on wages. Plus, Memphians spend five hours less per year in their daily commute compared to the national average. Learn how you can “Have More in Memphis.” 

Compensation

In recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $104,000 - $186,160 per year for the role of Senior Scientist (Pooled Lentiviral Screening & Method Development).

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