Postdoctoral Associate- Shen Lab
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POSITION TITLE: Postdoctoral Associate
POSITION SUMMARY:
A Postdoctoral Research Associate position in X-ray crystallography to elucidate the structures and functions of proteins from diverse natural product biosynthetic machineries is AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY. Current research in the Shen lab centers on the chemistry, biochemistry and genetics of natural product biosynthesis in actinobacteria. By asking what reactions are available in nature, what are the enzymatic mechanisms of these reactions, how these reactions are linked to produce complex structures, what are the regulatory mechanisms of these pathways, we aim to translate the fundamental understanding of natural product biosynthesis into innovative strategies for natural product discovery and manipulate nature’s biosynthetic machinery for the discovery and development of new drugs (https://www.scripps.edu/faculty/shen/).
Selected publications on structures and functions of proteins from natural product biosynthetic machineries:
(1) Lohman, J.R.; Ma, M.; Osipiuk, J.; Nocek, B.; Kim, Y.; Chang, C.; Cuff, M.; Mack, J.; Bigelow, L.; Li, H.; Endres, M.; Babnigg, G.; Joachimiak, A.; Phillips, G.N. Jr.; Shen, B. (2015) Structural and evolutionary relationships of “AT-less” type I polyketide synthase ketosynthases. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 112:12693–12698.
(2) Rudolf, J. D., Dong, L., Cao, H., Hatzos-Skintges, C., Osipiuk, J., Endres, M., Chang, C.-Y., Ma, M., Babnigg, G., Joachimiak, A., Phillips Jr., G. N., Shen, B. (2016). Structure of the ent-copalyl diphosphate synthase PtmT2 from Streptomyces platensis CB00739, a bacterial type II diterpene synthase. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 138:10905–10915.
(3) Chang, C.-Y.; Lohman, J. R.; Cao, H.; Tan, K.; Rudolf, J. D.; Ma, M.; Xu, W.; Bingman, C. A.; Yennamalli, R. M.; Bigelow, L.; Babnigg, G.; Yan, X.; Joachimiak, A.; Phillips, G.N. Jr.; Shen, B. (2016) Crystal structures of SgcE6 and SgcC, the two-component monooxygenase that catalyzes hydroxylation of a carrier protein-tethered substrate in biosynthesis of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic C-1027 in Streptomyces globisporus. Biochemistry. 55:5142–5154.
(4) Chang, C.-Y., Lohman, J. R., Huang, T., Michalska, K., Bigelow, L., Rudolf, J. D., Jedrzejczak, R., Yan, X., Ma, M., Babnigg, G., Joachimiak, A., Phillips Jr., G. N., Shen, B. (2018) Structural insights into the free-standing condensation enzyme SgcC5 catalyzing ester-bond formation in the biosynthesis of the enediyne antitumor antibiotic C-1027. Biochemistry 57:3278–3288.
(5) Wang, N., Rudolf, J. D., Dong, L.-B., Osipiuk, J., Hatzos-Skintges, C., Endres, M., Chang, C.-Y., Babnigg, G., Joachimiak, A., Phillips Jr., G. N., Shen, B. (2018). Discovery of a non-adenylating acyl-CoA ligase and restoring its adenylation activity. Nat. Chem. Biol. 14:730–737.
(6) Chang, C.-Y.; Yan, X.; Crnovcic, I.; Annaval, T.; Chang, C.; Nocek, B.; Rudolf, J. D.; Yang, D.; Hindra; Babnigg, G.; Joachimiak, A.; Phillips, G. N. Jr.; Shen, B. (2018) Resistance to enediyne antitumor antibiotics by sequestration. Cell Chem. Biol. 25:1075-1085.
(7) Annaval, T.; Han, L.; Rudolf, J. D.; Xie, G.; Yang, D.; Chang, C.-Y.; Ma, M.; Crnovcic, I.; Miller, M. D.; Soman, J.; Xu, W.; Phillips, G. N. Jr.; Shen, B. (2018) Biochemical and structural characterization of TtnD, a prenylated FMN-dependent decarboxylase from the tautomycetin biosynthetic pathway. ACS Chem. Biol. 13:2728-2738.
(8) Dong, L.-B.; Liu, Y.-C.; Cepeda, A. J.; Kalkreuter, E.; Deng, M.-R.; Rudolf, J. D.; Chang, C.; Joachimiak, A.; Phillips Jr, G. N.; Shen, B. (2019) Characterization and crystal structure of a nonheme diiron monooxygenase involved in platensimycin and platencin biosynthesis. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 141:12406-12412
A Postdoctoral Associate is a direct pay individual in a Division 3 status. Postdoctoral Associates are appointed positions for the purpose of developing scholarly competence, working under the supervision of a Scripps Research Faculty member. These appointments are normally not renewed beyond a total of six years. Postdoctoral Associates cannot apply for external funding either as a Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator without prior approval from a Departmental Chair. Postdoctoral Associates do not have consulting privileges.
REQUIREMENTS:
Must possess a doctoral degree.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We are specifically looking for those with experience in bioinformatics, genome mining, and development of enabling technologies for BGC activation in native producers or heterologous hosts for natural product discovery.
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
Scripps is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
COVID-19 update:
The safety and well-being of our candidates, our people and their families continues to be a top priority. Until restrictions change, interviews will be conducted virtually. New hires will work remotely, unless specifically authorized for campus access.