Postdoctoral Research Associate

Job Title

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Chemistry

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Glimpse of the Job

The newly established Huang Research Group in the Department of Chemistry at Texas A&M University seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to investigate how post-translational modifications regulate proteins involved in cell–cell adhesion. The research will integrate top-down proteomics, molecular engineering, and biochemical and cell-based approaches to connect protein modification states with molecular interactions and cellular function. The position offers an opportunity to develop and apply advanced protein mass spectrometry methods using state-of-the-art Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) instrumentation.

Opportunities to Contribute

• Operates, maintains, and troubleshoots a Thermo Scientific Vanquish Neo liquid chromatography system coupled to a Tribrid Orbitrap mass spectrometer.
• Develops and optimizes sample preparation, separation, and mass spectrometry methods for intact protein and proteoform characterization.
• Designs and generates protein expression constructs.
• Establishes and maintains stable mammalian cell lines and performs bacterial and mammalian cell culture.
• Expresses, purifies, and characterizes proteins for top-down proteomics and studies of protein structure and function.
• Analyzes research data, evaluate results, and develop hypotheses to guide subsequent experiments.
• Assists, mentors, and supervises undergraduate and graduate student researchers.
• Writes, contributes, attends and presents research findings at group meetings, collaborative discussions, and regional and national conferences.
• Investigates how post-translational modifications influence protein interactions and the molecular regulation of cell–cell adhesion.
• Supports daily laboratory operations and maintains a safe, organized research environment.
• Performs other research-related duties as required by the project.

Qualifications

• Appropriate PhD in a related field.  
• Duties may require moving heavy gas cylinders and tanks.

A well-qualified candidate may also possess:

• PhD in chemistry, biochemistry, chemical biology, cell biology, or a related field, and at least one first-author publication reporting original doctoral research.
• Hands-on experience in proteomics or metabolomics using liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry with knowledge of Orbitrap FTMS technology, charge-detection mass spectrometry, and top-down proteomics.
• Experience characterizing intact proteins, proteoforms, and post-translational modifications.
• Experience with bacterial and mammalian cell culture, molecular cloning, lentiviral transduction, and stable mammalian cell line generation.
• Experience with protein chromatography.
• Experience with biochemical or cell-based assays.
• Familiarity with mass spectrometry data acquisition or analysis platforms, such as Xcalibur, Proteome Discoverer, ProSight, UniDec, TopPIC, or FragPipe.
• Experience using R and/or Python for data analysis and visualization.
• Leadership and interpersonal skills that support productive collaborations.
• Ability to mentor undergraduate and graduate students.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to learn new methods, critically evaluate scientific literature, and formulate testable hypotheses.

Salary: Compensation will be commensurate based on the selected candidate’s education and experience.
Special Note: Because all or a portion of your salary may be funded by grants or contracts, your continuing salary and overall employment is contingent upon availability of these funds in the future.
Schedule/Location Note: Schedules may need to accommodate instrument availability and biological experiment timelines. Travel may be required for meetings and conferences.

What You Need to Do: 

Select the Apply button to begin your application. Submitting a cover letter and resume is strongly recommended and will help us with the review process. You may upload these documents on the application under CV/Resume.

Why Texas A&M University? 

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences. Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service. 

Texas A&M University’s Department of Chemistry is a cadre of faculty, staff, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, academic advisors, scientific and technical staff, who have a shared purpose of translating our passion for chemistry to young scholars at all levels in many scientific fields. To learn more, please visit our website: http://www.chem.tamu.edu/    

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration.  Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you.  Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.  

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts, and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums. 
• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays.  
• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave and at least eight hours of paid vacation each month. 
• Automatic enrollment in the Teacher Retirement System of Texas
• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and release time 
• Professional Development: All employees have access to free LinkedIn Learning training, webinars, and limited financial support to attend conferences, workshops, and more.  
• Educational release time and tuition assistance for completing a degree while a Texas A&M employee. 
• Living Well, a program at Texas A&M that has been built by employees, for employees.

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered, or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to prepopulate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.