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🧬 Postdoctoral Fellow Position | Neal Lab – UC San Diego | HHMI
Institution: University of California San Diego (UC San Diego)
Laboratory: Neal Lab
Affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
📍 Location: San Diego, California, USA
💼 Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
🔬 Research Area: Membrane Protein Quality Control | Structural Biology | Biophysics | Cell Biology | Protein Folding | Imaging | Mammalian Cell Biology
The Neal Lab at UC San Diego, led by an HHMI Freeman Hrabowski Scholar, is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow to lead exciting structural and biophysical studies investigating how misfolded membrane proteins are detected and cleared by the cell’s quality control machinery.
The position offers an opportunity to work at the intersection of structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, and imaging, while contributing to an active and collaborative research program focused on understanding membrane protein quality control.
🔬 What You’ll Work On
Membrane Protein Quality Control
Investigate how cells identify and eliminate misfolded membrane proteins and understand the molecular mechanisms underlying membrane protein quality control.
Structural & Biophysical Studies
Apply structural and biophysical approaches to understand membrane protein structure, folding, quality control, and cellular processing.
Cell-Based Research
Combine molecular and structural approaches with cell-based assays to connect molecular mechanisms with cellular outcomes.
Imaging & Quantitative Analysis
Use imaging approaches to investigate membrane protein behavior and connect structural observations with cellular phenotypes.
Molecular Mechanisms
Study how the cellular quality control machinery detects and responds to improperly folded membrane proteins.
🎯 Your Role
The appointed Postdoctoral Fellow will be responsible for:
- Leading independent research projects focused on membrane protein quality control.
- Investigating how misfolded membrane proteins are detected and cleared by cells.
- Applying structural and biophysical approaches to study membrane proteins.
- Designing and conducting rigorous experiments.
- Combining structural approaches with cell-based and imaging assays.
- Connecting molecular mechanisms to cellular outcomes.
- Performing protein expression, purification, and characterization where appropriate.
- Applying membrane protein reconstitution approaches where required.
- Collaborating with researchers across the UC San Diego research community and beyond.
- Analyzing and interpreting experimental data.
- Preparing manuscripts and research presentations.
- Presenting findings at scientific conferences.
- Mentoring students and junior researchers.
- Contributing to the scientific direction of an active and growing research program.
- Participating in a collaborative and supportive laboratory environment.
🧪 Research Focus
The position centers on understanding the mechanisms governing membrane protein quality control and how cells maintain protein homeostasis.
The major areas of work include:
- Membrane protein quality control
- Protein folding and misfolding
- Structural biology
- Biophysics
- Membrane protein expression
- Protein purification
- Protein reconstitution
- Structural/biophysical characterization
- Cell biology
- Mammalian cell culture
- Imaging
- Cell-based assays
- Molecular mechanisms of protein quality control
- Protein homeostasis
The research program combines structural, biophysical, cellular, and imaging approaches to understand how molecular events in membrane protein quality control translate into cellular outcomes.
👨🔬 Ideal Candidates
Applicants should have:
- A recent PhD or expected PhD completion shortly in:
- Biochemistry
- Biophysics
- Structural Biology
- Cell Biology
- Or a related field
- A strong record of independent and rigorous research.
- Strong scientific curiosity and enthusiasm for interdisciplinary research.
- Excellent experimental and analytical skills.
- Ability to work independently while contributing effectively to a collaborative team.
⭐ Strongly Preferred Experience
Hands-on experience with membrane proteins, particularly in areas such as:
- Membrane protein expression
- Protein purification
- Protein reconstitution
- Structural characterization
- Biophysical characterization
➕ Additional Valuable Experience
Experience with:
- Imaging
- Mammalian tissue culture
- Cell-based assays
- Structural biology techniques
- Biophysical approaches
The lab emphasizes not only previous technical experience but also collaboration, curiosity, scientific rigor, and a genuine interest in understanding biological mechanisms.
💰 What We Offer
Competitive Salary
The Postdoctoral Fellow will be appointed through UC San Diego at a competitive salary aligned with HHMI’s postdoctoral pay standards.
Full UC Benefits
Comprehensive health coverage and retirement benefits are provided through the University of California system.
Extended Research Network
The HHMI affiliation provides access to a broad network of structural biology and cell biology collaborators.
People-First Lab Culture
The Neal Lab emphasizes a supportive, close-knit, and collaborative environment that values both scientific excellence and the growth of its researchers.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
- Advanced experience in membrane protein quality control research.
- Hands-on exposure to structural and biophysical approaches.
- Experience studying membrane protein folding and quality control mechanisms.
- Opportunity to combine molecular research with cell-based and imaging approaches.
- Experience working with membrane protein expression, purification, and reconstitution.
- Opportunity to collaborate across the UC San Diego research community.
- Access to an extended network of structural and cell biology collaborators.
- Opportunities to present research at scientific conferences.
- Experience mentoring students and contributing to research direction.
- Opportunities to publish research in high-quality scientific journals.
- A supportive, collaborative, and people-first research environment.
- Competitive compensation and comprehensive UC benefits.
💼 Position Details
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Institution: University of California San Diego
Laboratory: Neal Lab
Affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Research Area: Membrane Protein Quality Control
Primary Fields: Structural Biology | Biophysics | Cell Biology | Biochemistry
Qualification: Recent PhD or PhD expected shortly
Preferred Background: Biochemistry | Biophysics | Structural Biology | Cell Biology | Related Fields
Key Skills: Membrane Protein Expression | Purification | Reconstitution | Structural Characterization | Biophysical Characterization
Additional Skills: Imaging | Mammalian Tissue Culture | Cell-Based Assays
Salary: Competitive, aligned with HHMI postdoctoral pay standards
Benefits: UC Health Coverage | Retirement Benefits
Research Environment: HHMI-affiliated | Collaborative | Supportive | Interdisciplinary
📄 How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following application materials:
- Cover letter or email summarizing:
- Research experience
- Contributions to science
- Research interests
- How your interests align with the Neal Lab’s work
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) with publication list.
- PDF copies of your 1–2 most significant publications or preprints.
- Names and contact information for 3 references.
Applications can be sent to:
Email: seancl@ucsd.edu
Additional Contact: sonya@neal-lab.com
Candidates with relevant experience in membrane protein research, structural biology, biophysics, cell biology, or related fields are encouraged to apply.
📅 Key Dates
Application Deadline: Not specified
Position Status: Hiring
PhD Requirement: Recent PhD or expected shortly
Start Date: Not specified
Location: San Diego, California, USA
📌 Job Details
Institution: University of California San Diego
Laboratory: Neal Lab
Affiliation: Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Research Focus: Membrane Protein Quality Control
Research Areas: Structural Biology | Biophysics | Cell Biology | Biochemistry | Protein Homeostasis
Qualification: Recent PhD or PhD expected shortly
Preferred Experience: Membrane Protein Expression | Purification | Reconstitution | Structural/Biophysical Characterization
Additional Experience: Imaging | Mammalian Tissue Culture | Cell-Based Assays
Salary: Competitive HHMI-scale Salary
Benefits: Comprehensive UC Health Coverage | Retirement Benefits
Application Mode: Email
Application Documents: Cover Letter/Research Statement | CV with Publications | 1–2 Significant Publications/Preprints | 3 References
Application Emails: seancl@ucsd.edu | sonya@neal-lab.com
Start Date: Not Specified
Application Deadline: Not Specified
Category
Postdoctoral Jobs | UC San Diego Jobs | HHMI Jobs | Structural Biology Jobs | Biophysics Jobs | Membrane Protein Research | Cell Biology Jobs | Biochemistry Jobs | Protein Biology | Protein Quality Control | Life Sciences Jobs | Research Jobs | USA Postdoc Positions
🏷️ Tags
#Postdoc #PostdoctoralResearcher #UCSD #UCSanDiego #HHMI #NealLab #StructuralBiology #Biophysics #MembraneProteins #ProteinQualityControl #CellBiology #Biochemistry #ProteinBiology #LifeSciences
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