St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is seeking an experienced scientific leader to serve as Lead Scientist - Directing of the Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Tomography (Cryo-EM/Cryo-ET) Center. This position will play a key role in overseeing daily operations of the Center, advancing cryo-EM and cryo-ET workflows, supporting institutional research programs, and leading a team of scientists responsible for user training, instrument operations, and technology development.
EnvironmentThe Cryo-EM/Cryo-ET Center operates in close partnership with the Center of Excellence for Structural Cell Biology (CoE-SCB), which focuses on advanced method development and next-generation workflows in tissue cryo-ET, cryo-volume EM, and correlative imaging. Together, these programs provide investigators with access to state-of-the-art instrumentation, computational infrastructure, and scientific expertise supporting both routine structural biology and advanced methodological innovation.
The successful candidate will contribute to the strategic growth of cryo-EM/cryo-ET capabilities at St. Jude and will work closely with faculty, staff scientists, computational teams, including from the Center of Excellence for Structural Cell Biology (CoE-SCB). The position combines scientific leadership, operational oversight, user support, and team management within a highly collaborative and rapidly expanding environment.
The Cryo-EM/Cryo-ET Center supports a broad range of structural biology and cellular imaging projects spanning pediatric cancer, infectious disease, neuroscience, immunology, and fundamental biology. The Center houses multiple state-of-the-art cryo-EM systems including Krios G3i, Krios G4, Krios 5, Talos Arctica, Aquilos 2 cryo-FIB, and advanced computational infrastructure for high-throughput cryo-EM and cryo-ET workflows.
Key Responsibilities - Provide scientific and operational leadership for the Cryo-EM/Cryo-ET Center in collaboration with Center leadership and faculty users.
- Supervise and mentor a team of 3 - 4 staff scientists supporting cryo-EM and cryo-ET workflows, instrument operations, user training, and data handling and processing.
- Oversee day-to-day operation, scheduling, utilization, and performance of cryo-EM instrumentation, including Krios G3i, Krios G4, Talos Arctica, Talos L120C, and Aquilos 2 systems.
- Ensure high-quality user support for single-particle analysis (SPA), cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), cryo-FIB milling, cryo-CLEM, and associated workflows.
- Develop and implement training programs for new and advanced users, including microscope operation, sample preparation, data collection, and best-practice workflows.
- Work closely with investigators to design imaging strategies aligned with project goals and scientific objectives.
- Participate in the development, optimization, and implementation of emerging Cryo-EM/Cryo-ET methodologies, automation workflows, and high-throughput approaches.
- Collaborate with computational scientists and HPC teams to support data management, on-the-fly processing, and image analysis workflows.
- Contribute to strategic planning for future instrumentation, workflow development, and facility expansion.
- Maintain and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs), usage policies, safety documentation, and quality-control processes.
- Coordinate with vendors, service engineers, and institutional support teams to maintain optimal instrument performance and minimize downtime.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and service-oriented environment that supports scientific excellence across the institution.
Minimum Education and/or Training:- Bachelor's degree in relevant scientific area is required.
Minimum Experience:- Twelve (12) years of relevant work experience is required with a Bachelor's degree.
- Ten (10) years of relevant experience is required with a Master's degree.
- Seven (7) years of relevant work experience is required with a PhD.
Preferred Education and Experience:- PhD or equivalent in Structural Biology, Cell Biology, Biophysics, Biochemistry, or a related field.
- Significant hands-on experience with Cryo-EM/Cryo-ET workflows.
- Demonstrated expertise in operation of high-end cryo-EM instrumentation, including 200 and 300 kV TEM systems.
- Experience with cryo-ET workflows, cryo-FIB milling, cryo-CLEM, or advanced sample preparation methods is advantageous.
- Familiarity with cryo-EM image-processing software and data-collection platforms such as EPU, SerialEM, Tomography 5, RELION, CryoSPARC, Warp, or equivalent tools.
- Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
- Experience supervising or mentoring scientific staff and trainees.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment.
- Strong commitment to scientific service, training, and user support.
CompensationIn recognition of certain U.S. state and municipal pay transparency laws, St. Jude is including a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role. This is an estimate offered in good faith and a specific salary offer takes into account factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the salary range and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $125,840 - $238,160 per year for the role of Lead Scientist - Directing Cryo-Electron Microscopy and Tomography Center.
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