Post-Doctoral Research Associate - Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology

Postdoctoral Scientist position in Dr. Sarah Shelby's lab

An open position for a postdoctoral scientist is available in the Shelby lab in the Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. We are seeking highly motivated scientists interested in biophysical research and single-molecule techniques. Research in the Shelby lab centers on the membrane biophysics of immune receptor signaling in B and T cells, with applications in the basic science of immunology and immunotherapy (https://bcmb.utk.edu/sarah-shelby/). We use a combination of biophysical and cell biological approaches to study how receptor signaling is regulated on the plasma membrane, with quantitative single-molecule fluorescence microscopy of living cells as a primary experimental tool.

Duties/Responsibilities:

The purpose of this position is to assist in the research and work done in the Shelby Lab, especially the setup and development of biological laboratory resources to be used in microscopy experiments. This will entail designing and performing procedures to establish cell lines, producing custom protein and DNA reagents, as well as collecting and analyzing biochemical data. The research technician will also regularly perform laboratory procedures to support ongoing research projects. This includes maintenance of mammalian cell culture, running immune cell functional assays, protein expression and purification, molecular biology, as well as many other facets needed for the research done in the lab. Responsibilities will require experimental problem resolution and exercise of independent judgment in performance of research activities. The work also includes reporting of data, detailed record-keeping, and some administrative tasks. The candidate will be partially responsible for day-to-day supervision of undergraduate students, as well as training undergraduate and graduate students in specific laboratory techniques and assays. This position will also provide the opportunity to learn cutting-edge biophysical techniques including super-resolution fluorescence microscopy.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities for this position include:

* Design, perform, troubleshoot, and optimize experiments. Direct an independent research project involving quantitative single-molecule imaging of Immune receptors.

* Review and present recent literature related to the project.

* Interpret and present results to fellow lab members and eventually to the broader scientific community through conference presentations and publications.

* Provide constructive and critical feedback on other lab member's projects.

* Assist in training new undergraduate and graduate students in the lab.

* Apply for independent funding where appropriate and contribute to lab grant applications.

* Contribute to basic lab management.