Postdoctoral Research Associate - Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the lab of Dr. Senthil Bhoopalan.

Project Description

Bone marrow failure (BMF) disorders are catastrophic diseases of childhood that result in failure to produce hematopoietic cells leading to severe morbidity and eventually mortality. Treatment options are limited to supportive care and allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. We are interested in developing curative therapies for patients with these rare but severe disorders. Using a combination of disease model systems such as induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hematopoietic stem cells and engineered hematopoietic stem cells from healthy donors to model patient mutations, we have advanced development of gene therapy for Diamond-Blackfan anemia which is anticipated to move to clinic in the coming months. Now we are developing individualized genome editing-based treatments using base editors and prime editors for BMF disorders. As part of an academic/industry team, we recently received funding from ARPA-H to advance development of in vivo genome editing for BMF disorders (https://www.stjude.org/research/departments/hematology/drive.html). This translational project, called DRIVE which stands for Delivering Rare-disease In Vivo Editors, will involve development of preclinical models and pipelines to demonstrate efficacy and safety and accelerated development of personalized bespoke genomic medicines for patients with BMF disorders such as Diamond-Blackfan anemia and GATA2 deficiency. You will work with a multidisciplinary team of scientists with expertise in genome editing, high throughput screens, hematology, cell biology, LNP formulation, technology development and commercialization, cGMP practices, technical writing, regulatory affairs, clinical trial design and project management.

Position Responsibilities

Develop novel research project(s) and idea(s) in collaboration with mentor Design and perform experiments, interpret data, and communicate results with scientific community Work with mice models of human disease Work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team and with collaborative labs inside and outside St. Jude Generate initial draft for grants and research manuscripts Professional development requirement, including grant writing

Minimum Education and/or Training

PhD

Special Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

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• Experience working with mice
• Strong background in cell biology and HSC biology
• Exposure to high-throughput screens, CRISPR/Cas9, base editors will strengthen the application

About the lab and St. Jude

The Bhoopalan lab’s goal is to advance our mechanistic understanding of human hematopoiesis in health and disease and leverage these findings to develop curative therapies for human blood disorders. The Bhoopalan lab is a diverse multidisciplinary group that utilizes various tools from molecular biology, cell biology, computational data science and translational medicine. Trainees will have access to the deep technical expertise in the lab, and the opportunities to participate in wide range of collaborative efforts, lead projects, learn grantsmanship and develop a path towards independent research.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a world-class research institution dedicated to pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Our 300 faculty work across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and population science in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment that includes a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. St. Jude is ranked on Fortune Magazine’s “Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma” and Glassdoor’s “Best Places to Work,” and is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food and culture.

We are in pursuit of the brightest minds in biomedical sciences, individuals poised to contribute to our research progress. Other than access to top-quality scientists and mentors, as a postdoctoral trainee at St. Jude, you will have:

• A Blend of Academic Freedom and Industrial Efficiency: Access to shared resources and facilities led by expert scientists, coupled with cutting-edge technology, accelerates research productivity.
• Customized Professional and Career Growth: Experience specifically designed programs to enhance professional growth and career readiness empowering postdocs for success beyond their training. This includes access to grant writing workshops, individual development plans, teaching and mentoring opportunities, non-research career advancement programs, professional development allowance, and so much more.
• Competitive Compensation: Embark on your journey with a competitive salary starting at $72,530 a year, comprehensive benefits and generous relocation assistance, reflecting our commitment to recognize and invest in talent.
• A Sense of Community: St. Jude fosters a vibrant postdoc community that supports a well-balanced life. A dynamic environment promotes connections and camaraderie among postdocs from all backgrounds.

We are committed to a human-centered hiring experience. Technology may support portions of our process, but recruiting decisions involve human review and engagement. Learn more about our approach to AI.

St. Jude is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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