Radial Postdoctoral Fellow – Dynamic Structural Biology (diffUSE Project)

Position Summary

• The diffUSE Project is seeking a highly motivated structural biologist to push the boundaries of X-ray crystallography for studying protein dynamics. Work will be done within the Ando lab. The Ando lab is known for developing and integrating advanced structural techniques (crystallography, SAXS, and cryo-EM) and bioinformatics to visualize protein motions underlying enzyme catalysis and allostery. The postdoctoral fellow would contribute to the Diffuse Project, a multi-institution initiative around mainstreaming diffuse scattering techniques, which use the hidden data from X-ray crystallography experiments to extract information on protein motion. The project is an open-science collaboration that brings together expertise across disciplines in
• a goal-driven, team-oriented environment. The successful candidate will drive the application of diffuse scattering to biological questions by growing protein crystals, collecting synchrotron data, and applying computational tools developed within the collaboration.

• Applicants should hold a PhD in structural biology or a related field and have experience with X-ray crystallography. Strong experimental skills, quantitative thinking, and a rigorous approach to problem-solving are essential. The successful candidate will be embedded within one or more diffUSE Project teams, depending on their interests and expertise. Current areas of opportunity include protein expression and purification, software development for data processing and analysis, molecular dynamics simulations, and theoretical approaches such as model refinement and phase retrieval. In addition to contributing to the broader collaboration, the candidate will participate fully in Ando Lab activities and demonstrate leadership through mentoring and fostering a positive, collaborative, and productive research environment. Strong written and oral communication skills are required, as the position involves contributing to ongoing dissemination of results through publications as well as open-science formats such as
• online notebooks and blog posts.

Responsibilities

Design and execute experiments to probe protein dynamics using X-ray crystallography, including crystal growth, optimization, and data collection

Collect and analyze diffraction data (including diffuse scattering) at synchrotron facilities

Apply and/or develop computational tools for modeling conformational ensembles from experimental data

Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across the diffUSE Project (experimental, computational, and theoretical groups)

Contribute to method development and benchmarking for dynamic structural biology

Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the team

Communicate results through open-science platforms

Required Qualifications

PhD in Structural Biology, Biophysics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, or a related field

Demonstrated experience with X-ray crystallography (data collection, processing, refinement)

Strong experimental skills in protein expression, purification, and/or crystallization

Ability to think rigorously about physical models and experimental data

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Ability to work effectively in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with advanced X-ray instrumentation

Experience developing experimental or theoretical approaches for dynamic structural biology (such as time-resolved X-FEL, energy landscapes by cryo-EM)

Experience with scientific programming (Python, MATLAB, etc.)

Engagement in open-science practices

Compensation

Commensurate with experience.

Benefits summary

Application Instructions

Please submit:

CV

Cover letter

Contact information for 3 references

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.