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Postdoctoral Fellow- Protein & Structural Chemistry

AT Merck
Merck

Postdoctoral Fellow- Protein & Structural Chemistry

Spring House, PA

Job Description

Be a part of the legacy: Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program

Our Research Laboratories' Postdoctoral Research Fellow Program aims to be a best-in-industry program for industrial postdoctoral researchers, designed to provide you with an academic focus in a commercial environment. With the resources, reach, and expertise of a large pharmaceutical company, postdoctoral researchers will be positioned to excel in an institution committed to breakthrough innovation in research and discovery.

The Department of Protein & Structural Chemistry (PSC) within Discovery Chemistry at our company's Research Labs (West Point, PA) is currently seeking a creative and highly-motivated Postdoctoral Fellow with expertise in protein biochemistry, biophysics and structural biology of proteins and antibodies, along with a keen interest in targeted protein degradation. The primary focus of this position will be to utilize a combination of cellular biology, biophysical and structural techniques to investigate the molecular mechanism of degrading membrane proteins through induced proximity.

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Working in close collaboration with cell biologists, protein biochemists, medicinal and computational chemists within our company's network, the postdoctoral fellow will be engaged in a research project aimed at achieving impactful results that can be published in peer-reviewed journals. The successful candidate will be responsible for all aspects of the experimental process from protein construct design, protein purification, sample preparation, assay development, and structure determination, as well as the effective communication of data with key stakeholders. We are open to considering promising candidates who may not meet all the specified experience and skills but are enthusiastic and passionate about making significant contributions in this field.

Responsibilities include:

  • Protein construct design
  • Expression and purification of soluble proteins, antibodies, and nanobodies. Experience with E3 ligases would be a strong advantage
  • Biophysical/biochemical characterization of proteins (SPR, TdF, LC/MS, in vitro assays)
  • Structural characterization of proteins and complexes by X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-EM or cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET)
  • Sharing of knowledge through attending internal and external scientific conferences
  • Write and submit publications to peer-reviewed journals

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in structural biology, biochemistry, or chemistry and will have completed your PhD by May 2025.

Required Experience and Skills:

  • Ph.D. degree in structural biology or related field
  • Demonstrated experience in a broad range of activities for soluble protein purification (affinity chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, size exclusion chromatography)
  • Demonstrated experience in a broad range of activities for X-ray crystallography, including crystallization screening and optimization, crystal harvesting, data collection, and structure determination and/or demonstrated experience in a broad range of activities for atomic resolution single particle Cryo-EM, including sample preparation, data collection, image processing and structure determination.
  • Excellent communication skills (written, presentation, and oral)
  • Ability to work effectively and flexibly within timelines
  • Ability to manage a multifaceted project
  • Demonstrated ability to prepare peer-reviewed publications

Preferred Experience and Skills:

  • In-depth knowledge of current biophysical and functional characterization methods (e.g. SPR, thermal shift, ligand-binding, calorimetric assays, in vitro assays) to guide construct design and optimization
  • Experience with structure determination of multi-subunit protein complexes

Intended training and mentoring in one or more of the following fields during the postdoctoral fellowship:

  • Biophysical and functional protein characterization methods
  • Translational assays
  • Cryo-electron tomography

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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:
Regular

Relocation:
Domestic

VISA Sponsorship:
Yes

Travel Requirements:
10%

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
No

Hazardous Material(s):
NA

Job Posting End Date:
10/25/2024
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.

Requisition ID:R316790

Client-provided location(s): West Point, PA, USA
Job ID: Merck-1960874535
Employment Type: Full Time