Postdoctoral Research Associate (Cryo-EM/Chromatin Biology)

Location: Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Salary: Starting at $72,529 annually, increasing with experience

Company

hirify.global is a research institution focused on understanding, treating, and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases through advanced biomedical research and clinical resources.

What you will do

• Design and execute experiments to reconstitute and characterize condensed chromatin assemblies in vitro.
• Prepare cryo-EM and cryo-ET specimens from chromatin assemblies and cells, including cryo-FIB milling for in situ tomography.
• Collect, process, and interpret single-particle cryo-EM and cryo-ET/subtomogram averaging datasets.
• Integrate structural, biochemical, biophysical, and cellular data to develop mechanistic models of genome organization.
• Present research at national and international meetings and prepare high-impact publications.
• Participate in the collaborative work of both laboratories and mentor junior trainees.

Requirements

• PhD or MD/PhD in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, cell biology, or a related field, completed or expected at appointment.
• Research productivity demonstrated by first-author publications or preprints.
• Hands-on experience in cryo-EM/cryo-ET, chromatin or nucleic acid–protein biochemistry, or quantitative biophysics of macromolecular assemblies.
• Strong written and oral communication skills and a rigorous, collaborative approach to research.
• Ability to work in a dual-mentorship environment spanning the Gibson and Skiniotis laboratories.

Nice to have

• Experience with nucleosome or chromatin reconstitution.
• Experience processing cryo-EM/cryo-ET data with RELION, cryoSPARC, IMOD, Warp, or similar tools.
• Programming or scripting experience for image analysis using Python, MATLAB, or similar languages.

Culture & Benefits

• Joint laboratory membership, shared project planning, joint lab meetings, and co-authored publications.
• Access to high-end transmission electron microscopes, cryo-ET, cryo-FIB, correlative microscopy, sample-preparation infrastructure, GPU workstations, and institutional data platforms.
• Embedded staff scientists provide consultation, hands-on training, and workflow mentorship; instrument access and expenses are institutionally supported.
• Salary exceeds the NIH scale, with medical, dental, and vision insurance at no premium for individual coverage and a 7% institutional retirement contribution.
• $2,500 annual professional development allowance, career development programs, paid time off, childcare access, fitness facilities, and relocation assistance of $8,000 for moves over 100 miles.
• Applications are reviewed immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Hiring process

• Submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three references through the St. Jude Careers portal and to the listed laboratory directors.