Postdoctoral Research Position: Single-Molecule Biophysics

The Lamichhane lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Cellular & Molecular Biology (BCMB) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), is seeking applications for a postdoctoral scientist to join the research group. We are seeking highly motivated scientists interested in biophysical research and single-molecule techniques. Our lab is interested in investigating conformational dynamics and the biomolecular interactions of complex biomolecules (protein dynamics, protein-protein, and protein-nucleic acid interactions) using state-of-the-art single-molecule fluorescence. The successful candidate will pursue independent research on conformational dynamics of membrane proteins, such as G Protein-Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). Please visit our lab website (https://lamichhanelab.com) for more information.

The Lamichhane Lab is in the Mossman Building within the BCMB department at the University of Tennessee. The University is located in downtown Knoxville, in the Great Appalachian Valley and the Great Smoky Mountain. We are near Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and work in close collaboration with scientists in the Biophysics and Structural Biology program at ORNL. We offer an excellent research environment, a thriving neighborhood, and multiple outdoor activities, all located within an area with a reasonable living cost.

This position is supported by the NIH R35 MIRA award to Dr. Lamichhane.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Specific responsibilities for this position include:

· Design, perform, troubleshoot, and optimize experiments

· 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

Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• Ph.D. in Biophysics, Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology, or related field
• At least 2 first-author peer-reviewed publication
• Prior experience with single-molecule microscopy is highly preferred

Preferred Experience:

• Protein expression and purification in eukaryotic (mammalian or insect) and bacterial cells
• Knowledge of the theories, principles, and concepts of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular & Cellular Biology
• Independent critical thinking skills necessary to design experiments or analyses

Minimum Required Skills and Abilities:

• Familiar with protein expression, purification, and fluorescent labeling
• Experience with in vitro and in vivo fluorescence methods
• Experience in single-molecule techniques
• Self-motivated work ethic leading to productive work
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with diverse levels of scientific communities

Support: Annual stipend of at least $47,000 and full University of Tennessee employee fringe benefits.

How to Apply:

· Please attach the following electronic documents to the application: A cover letter (a brief statement of your research experiments and interests), a CV, and the contact information of at least three references.

· Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Please contact Professor Rajan Lamichhane (rajan@utk.edu) for more information.