Postdoctoral Fellow - Noncoding RNA Structure and Recognition with Cryo-EM

A fully funded postdoctoral position is available in Dr. Jinwei Zhang’s lab in NIDDK, NIH in the vibrant main campus in Bethesda, MD near Washington DC. The lab is broadly interested in elucidating the structural mechanisms of large, complex noncoding RNAs and their interactions with proteins and other RNAs.

The incoming fellow will primarily use single-particle Cryo-EM and RNA design and engineering methods to investigate highly structured viral RNAs, gene-regulatory riboswitches, long noncoding RNAs and circular RNAs. See https://www-mslmb.niddk.nih.gov/zhang/zhanglab.html and selected publications below for details.

1. Umuhire-Juru, A., Ghirlando, R., & Zhang, J. (2024) Structural basis of tRNA recognition by the widespread OB fold., Nat. Commun., In press.
2. Skeparnias I., et al., & Zhang, J. (2024a) Structural basis of MALAT1 RNA maturation and mascRNA biogenesis., Nat. Struct. & Mol. Biol.
3. Skeparnias I., & Zhang, J. (2024b) Structural basis of NEAT1 lnRNA maturation and menRNA instability, Nat. Struct. & Mol. Biol.
4. Suddala K.C., et al., & Zhang, J. (2023) Direct observation of tRNA-chaperoned folding of a dynamic mRNA ensemble. Nat. Commun., 14, 5438.
5. Bou-Nader C., et al., & Zhang, J. (2022) Structural basis of R-loop recognition by the S9.6 monoclonal antibody, Nat. Commun., 13, 1641.

The lab has frequent, dedicated access to state-of-the-art equipment in Cryo-EM (multiple Glacios and Krios microscopes), X-ray crystallography (Mosquito, Dragonfly, Rock Imager, Akta Pures, Synchrotron access), biophysics (fluorescence and lifetime, ITC, CD, DSC, BLI, AUC, DLS, SEC-MALS, thermophoresis, mass photometry, etc), fermentation, genomics and sequencing (RNA-seq, CLIP-seq), advanced mass spec and proteomics (e.g. crosslinking mass spec) at core facilities with hands-on training by dedicated PhD-level staff scientists.

Incoming fellows are also encouraged to bring or develop your own ideas that you could grow into research programs that you can then take to your independent PI positions. The NIH, NIDDK, and LMB are committed to the continued education and career development of our diverse trainees through numerous courses, seminars and workshops offered by OITE, FAES, and NIDDK.

Interested candidates must have received (or be expecting) a Ph.D. or M.D. within the past five years in molecular biology, structural biology, biochemistry, RNA biology, or a related discipline, have excellent oral and written communication skills, and be strongly self-motivated to design, lead, and participate in innovative and rigorous research projects. Prior experiences in structural biology are not required, as training will be provided.

The NIH is dedicated to building a community in its training and employment programs and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. Selection for this position will be based solely on merit, with no discrimination for non-merit reasons such as race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, marital status, disability, age, or membership or non-membership in an employee organization. The NIH encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.