Description
The Sun Laboratory at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to work largely on a recently NIH-funded project in the area of mass spectrometry-based protein biophysics of membrane proteins. The main experimental techniques for investigations will include mass spectrometry (MS), protein footprinting, cross-linking, protein MS imaging, and AI-based protein structural prediction. The main instrument would be a newly installed TimsTOF Pro 2 coupled with NanoElute 2 nanoHPLC-MS system in the Sun laboratory. The successful candidate will work in a collaborative and interdisciplinary environment and will have opportunities to develop independent research projects and publish high-impact work.
About the Sun Laboratory
The Sun Laboratory (https://www.jiesunlab.com/) develops innovative mass spectrometry-based structural proteomics technologies to investigate protein structure, dynamics, and interactions in complex biological environments. Our research focuses on advancing protein footprinting and structural proteomics methods to study challenging protein systems such as membrane proteins and intrinsically disordered proteins. We aim to understand protein conformational dynamics, ligand interactions, and protein–protein interactions relevant to human diseases including cancer and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, the lab is developing approaches in spatial structural proteomics, integrating mass spectrometry imaging, structural proteomics, and data science to link molecular structures with tissue-level biological information.
About the University of Tennessee, Knoxville:
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is a flagship public research university founded in 1794. UTK is recognized for its strong research programs and collaborative environment and maintains a close partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), one of the largest U.S. Department of Energy research facilities. The Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology (BCMB) hosts cutting-edge research in biochemistry, structural biology, proteomics, and molecular biology. Faculty and trainees benefit from excellent research infrastructure and extensive opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
Interested applicants should submit their CVs and three references to jsun41@utk.edu
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
Ph.D. in mass spectrometry-based proteomics, mass spectrometry imaging, or a related field
First-author publication(s) in peer-reviewed journals
Preferred Qualifications and Skills
Experience in protein expression and purification.
Experience with SDS-PAGE, Western blotting, and standard protein characterization techniques.
Experience with protein footprinting, cross-linking MS, or structural proteomics.