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🧬 Postdoctoral Research Fellow – DNA Repair, Structural Biology & Nanobody Engineering | University of South Alabama
Institution: University of South Alabama – Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine
Laboratory: Prakash Laboratory
Research Centre: Mitchell Cancer Institute
📍 Location: Mobile, Alabama, USA
💼 Position Available: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
🔬 Research Areas: DNA Repair | Structural Biology | Cancer Biology | Nanobody Engineering | Protein Biochemistry | Mitochondrial DNA | Functional Genomics | Gene-Environment Interactions
The Prakash Laboratory at the University of South Alabama is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow position to join an active and well-funded research program focused on DNA repair biochemistry, structural biology, and translational nanobody engineering.
The successful candidate will work across multiple funded research projects investigating important mechanisms involved in DNA damage recognition and repair, cancer biology, genome maintenance, and protein engineering.
This position provides an excellent opportunity to develop a broad and competitive independent research profile within an interdisciplinary research environment.
🔬 Research Environment
The Prakash Laboratory investigates how cells recognize and repair DNA damage, with particular emphasis on the structure and function of DNA repair enzymes and the consequences of their dysregulation in cancer and environmental disease.
The laboratory’s current research areas include:
- Structure-function studies of base excision repair (BER) enzymes.
- Research on mismatch repair (MMR) proteins.
- DNA repair mechanisms and genome maintenance.
- Engineering and characterization of inhibitory nanobodies targeting DNA repair enzymes.
- Synthetic-lethal approaches for cancer therapy.
- Functional classification of DNA repair gene variants.
- Gene-environment interaction studies.
- Mitochondrial DNA repair and maintenance.
- Cancer susceptibility associated with compromised DNA repair pathways.
The laboratory maintains in-house X-ray crystallography capabilities and is supported by multiple active federal and extramural research grants.
🧪 What You’ll Work On
DNA Repair Research
Investigate how cells recognize and repair DNA damage, with research focusing on important DNA repair pathways, including:
- Base excision repair (BER)
- Mismatch repair (MMR)
- Mitochondrial DNA maintenance
- Genome stability and genome maintenance
Structural Biology
Conduct structure-function studies of DNA repair enzymes and proteins using advanced structural and biophysical approaches.
Research may involve:
- X-ray crystallography
- Protein structure determination
- Structural refinement
- Biophysical characterization
- Enzymology
Nanobody Engineering
Engineer and characterize inhibitory nanobodies targeting DNA repair enzymes.
These approaches may contribute to the development of novel strategies for synthetic-lethal cancer therapy.
Functional Genomics & Variant Analysis
Investigate mismatch repair gene variants and other DNA repair-related mutations through:
- Deep mutational scanning
- Functional assays
- Cell-based analysis
- Sequencing data analysis
Gene-Environment Interactions
Study how environmental genotoxins compromise DNA repair pathways and contribute to cancer susceptibility and disease.
Mitochondrial DNA Research
Investigate strategies for understanding and potentially enhancing mitochondrial DNA repair capacity.
Research may involve engineered approaches for targeting nuclear DNA repair enzymes to mitochondria.
💼 Anticipated Responsibilities
The selected Postdoctoral Research Fellow will be expected to:
- Conduct independent and collaborative research projects.
- Express, purify, and biophysically characterize DNA repair enzymes and engineered nanobodies.
- Perform X-ray crystallography experiments, from crystal screening through structure determination and refinement.
- Conduct enzyme kinetics and DNA substrate-based activity assays.
- Perform mammalian cell culture and cell-based functional assays.
- Conduct lentiviral transduction experiments where required.
- Perform deep mutational scanning and pooled selection experiments.
- Analyze sequencing and functional genomics datasets.
- Conduct mitochondrial fractionation and import assays.
- Quantify mitochondrial DNA damage.
- Analyze and interpret experimental data.
- Prepare scientific manuscripts and contribute to grant writing.
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate research trainees.
- Present research findings at national and international scientific conferences.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Applicants should have a PhD in one of the following or a closely related discipline:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Structural Biology
- Biophysics
- Related Biological or Biomedical Sciences
Candidates should demonstrate:
- A strong research record, including first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- Hands-on experience in recombinant protein biochemistry.
- Experience with molecular cloning, protein expression, and protein purification.
- A strong foundation in DNA repair mechanisms and/or genome maintenance pathways.
- The ability to work independently.
- Strong organizational and project management skills.
- The ability to manage multiple concurrent research projects.
- Excellent scientific communication skills.
⭐ Preferred Qualifications
Preference will be given to candidates with experience in:
- X-ray crystallography.
- Structural biology methods.
- Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM).
- Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS).
- Nanobody or single-domain antibody engineering.
- Base excision repair (BER).
- Mismatch repair (MMR).
- Fanconi anemia biology.
- Deep mutational scanning.
- Functional genomics.
- Next-generation sequencing.
- Translational research.
- Clinical applications of basic science research.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
Successful candidates will receive:
- The opportunity to work in a collaborative and well-funded research laboratory.
- Access to multiple active extramural research grants.
- Access to in-house X-ray crystallography facilities.
- Advanced training in structural biology and protein biochemistry.
- Experience in cancer biology and chemical biology.
- Training in functional genomics and deep mutational scanning.
- Experience with nanobody engineering and translational research.
- Opportunities to develop an independent research profile.
- Mentorship and support for career development.
- Support for pursuing independent funding opportunities, including NIH K99/R00 grants and individual fellowships.
- Opportunities to prepare for future faculty and independent research positions.
- Access to the research infrastructure and collaborative environment of the Mitchell Cancer Institute.
- Competitive salary and benefits in accordance with institutional and NIH guidelines.
🏛️ Research Environment & Career Development
The position offers broad interdisciplinary training across:
- Structural biology
- Cancer biology
- Chemical biology
- Protein biochemistry
- Functional genomics
- DNA repair research
The successful candidate will receive professional mentorship and support for developing an independent research career.
The laboratory’s proximity to the Mitchell Cancer Institute also provides opportunities for translational research and interdisciplinary collaboration.
💰 Funding & Benefits
Position Type: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Research Environment: Well-Funded Laboratory with Multiple Active Extramural Grants
Salary: Competitive and Commensurate with NIH and Institutional Guidelines
Benefits: Institutional Benefits Package
Career Development: Mentorship and Support for Independent Fellowships and Faculty Positions
Start Date: Flexible
Application Review: Immediate and Ongoing Until the Position Is Filled
📄 How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following application materials to Dr. Aishwarya Prakash:
📧 Email Applications To
Dr. Aishwarya Prakash
Email: aprakash@southalabama.edu
Applicants should include:
- Cover Letter – Describing research experience, career goals, and interest in the position.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) – Including a complete publication list.
- Contact Information for Three References.
Applications will be reviewed immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Anticipated Start Date: Flexible
📌 Job Details
Institution: University of South Alabama
College: Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine
Research Centre: Mitchell Cancer Institute
Laboratory: Prakash Laboratory
Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
Location: Mobile, Alabama, USA
Research Areas: DNA Repair | Structural Biology | Nanobody Engineering | Cancer Biology | Protein Biochemistry | Functional Genomics
DNA Repair Focus: BER | MMR | Mitochondrial DNA Maintenance | Genome Stability
Research Techniques: X-Ray Crystallography | Protein Purification | Enzyme Kinetics | Cell-Based Assays | Deep Mutational Scanning | Sequencing Analysis
Required Qualification: PhD in Biochemistry | Molecular Biology | Structural Biology | Biophysics | Related Field
Funding Environment: Multiple Active Extramural Grants
Start Date: Flexible
Application Mode: Email
Application Email: aprakash@southalabama.edu
Application Review: Immediate and Ongoing Until Filled
Category
Postdoctoral Position | Postdoctoral Fellowship | DNA Repair | Structural Biology | Cancer Biology | Nanobody Engineering | Protein Biochemistry | Functional Genomics | Molecular Biology | Biochemistry | Research Jobs | USA Jobs | University Jobs
🏷️ Tags
#PostdoctoralPosition #Postdoc #UniversityOfSouthAlabama #DNADamage #DNARepair #StructuralBiology #CancerBiology #NanobodyEngineering #ProteinBiochemistry #FunctionalGenomics #XRayCrystallography
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