Structure Determination By Cryo-Electron Microscopy

Several postdoctoral opportunities are available in the Cryo-EM Core at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS/NIH) under the supervision of Dr. Mario J. Borgnia. We seek highly motivated, talented and creative postdoctoral researchers interested in developing methods for solving structures using cryo-electron microscopy and in applying them to a wide variety of biological problems. The areas of interest in method development include preparation of molecular and cellular specimens using robotics and cryo-FIBSEM and optimization of automated methods for specimen screening and data collection in several modalities. Although the areas of application in collaboration vary widely, the Core has specific funding to study the mechanism of viral entry by HIV and SARS-CoV-2. NIEHS is located at the Research Triangle Park, a technological enclave in the Raleigh/Durham area, North Carolina. In the four years since its establishment, the Cryo-EM core has developed a collaborative training environment with several groups leading to over a dozen high impact publications. We work closely with intramural investigators at NIEHS and other institutes and with research groups from regional institutions including Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University and North Carolina State University. This variety of collaborations provides exposure to a diversity of biological problems. The Core is equipped with a 200 keV Talos Arctica and state of the art specimen preparation equipment. We are currently performing renovations for a 300 keV Titan Krios to be installed at NIEHS during the third quarter of 2021 as part of a joint initiative with NCATS, NIA, NIBIB, and NIDA. We also rely on collaborative support from other NIEHS cores providing access to protein expression and purification, viral vectors, NMR, X-ray crystallography, mass spectrometry and molecular dynamics. We have access to extensive computational resources including High-Performance Computing at NIH and cloud computing. The ideal candidate will be experienced in experimental and/or computational structural biology. Website: http://molecular-microscopy.org Qualifications: Suitably qualified candidates will possess a Ph.D., training in biochemistry or biophysics and have less than 2 years of postdoctoral experience. Previous training in structural biology is a plus. Computational skills including programming and proficiency in Linux are highly desirable. Proficiency in English, superior communication skills and a demonstrated record of accomplishment are required.