Associate Scientist or Lead Researcher - (Protein Engineering and Design, Genome Editing, Biotechnology, Shengdar Q. Tsai Lab)

Overview of our lab:

The Tsai lab is a highly collaborative, creative, and fun group of scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Our research program centers on dethe development of state-of-the-art genomic methods for understanding the global activities of genome editors, protein engineering to improve their capabilities for precise editing, and translation to autologous genome-editedematopoietic stem cell therapies.

About the job opportunity:

We are seeking an outstanding and highly motivated Lead Researcher to help lead efforts to develop personalized genome editing treatments. We care deeply about the success of our scientists and this job is a unique opportunity to learn about genomics, genome editing, and protein engineering while contributing to the development of future individualized genomic medicines at St. Jude, with room for career growth and advancement.

Dr. Tsai is co-leading a new Blue Sky Project called PARADIGM (Partnership to Advance Development of Individualized Genomic Medicines) with the goal of developing personalized genome editing therapies for St. Jude patients.

You would have opportunities to lead exciting projects that include:

• Protein engineering of improved novel CRISPR base and prime genome editors with human cell-based directed evolution.

• Develop scalable methods to characterize large numbers of CRISPR genome editing variants for activity and specificity with massively parallel high-throughput sequencing approaches.

• Design and test new CRISPR genome editors with generative artificial intelligence protein large language models.

• Help develop laboratory automation workflows to perform scalable protein engineering.

• Understanding the structure-function relationship of mutations identified from high-throughput screens on the activity of genome editors.

• Perform deep mutational scanning of CRISPR-Cas orthologues and effector domains important for precise genome editing, such as deaminases and reverse transcriptases.

• Define the outcome of engineered variants on genome editing repair outcomes using high-throughput genomic methods.

You would learn valuable laboratory skills that include:

Genome engineering, high-throughput genomics, next-generation sequencing, protein engineering, structural biology, liquid handling automation, hematopoietic stem cell culture and transfection, and data science.

Project-dependent responsibilities could include:

• Engineer CRISPR base and prime editors with improved activity and specificities.

• Optimize lead protein candidates by structure-guided design and high-throughput screening.

• Apply new artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques to guide protein engineering design.

• Analyze experimental outcomes and develop high-quality summaries towards manuscripts and grant applications.

• Draft manuscripts and figures for publication in high-impact journals.

Other Job Responsibilities:

• Independently perform experiments using existing, modified, or newly developed techniques/ protocols.

• Set up protocols using new or modified laboratory techniques and troubleshoot experiments independently.

• Identify experimental data pertinent to the analysis problem; process, organize, and summarize data; report results.

• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the field and related techniques.

• Provide ongoing support for monitoring, maintenance, ordering, and purchasing of equipment and supplies as needed.

• Provide guidance and training to less-experienced team members and may also train others outside lab in relevant techniques.

• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and the institution.

• Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Compensation

Explore our exceptional benefits!

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has a diverse, global patient population and workforce, built on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our founder Danny Thomas envisioned a hospital that would treat children of the world-regardless of race, religion or a family's ability to pay. Learn more about our history and commitment.

Today, we continue the mission to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. As we accelerate this progress globally, we believe our legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion is foundational to success. With the commitment of leaders at all levels of the organization, we strive to ensure the St. Jude culture, leadership approaches and talent processes are equitable and culturally responsive. View our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Report to learn about the hospital's roots in diversity, equity and inclusion, where we are today and our aspirations for an even better future.

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