Radial Postdoctoral Fellow – Dynamic Structural Biology (diffUSE Project)

Salary: $70K
Location: Ithaca, NY (Cornell University) with travel to partner sites

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

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.

Compensation Range: $70K