Research Scholar – Director of Protein Design and Analysis Core

About Duke University School of Medicine

Founded in 1930, the Duke University School of Medicine is nationally recognized as a leading institution, ranked sixth among medical schools in the United States. The School emphasizes an inclusive environment uniting learners, researchers, clinicians, and staff who collaborate across disciplines to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into improved health outcomes worldwide. The Duke School of Medicine works closely with the School of Nursing and the Duke University Health System, comprising numerous hospitals, primary care, home care, wellness programs, and affiliations, to form a premier academic medical center.

Role Overview

The Research Scholar will serve as the Director of the Protein Design and Analysis Core, providing visionary scientific and operational leadership to a multidisciplinary core facility focused on the de novo design, engineering, characterization, and structural analysis of proteins. This leadership role involves managing a team of scientists and technical staff while acting as a strategic collaborator for internal research projects and external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and direct the Protein Design and Analysis Core, ensuring effective operation and strategic development.
• Manage multidisciplinary teams comprising scientists, engineers, and technical personnel.
• Collaborate closely with research programs and partners to facilitate high-throughput, service-oriented protein design and analysis projects.

Expertise and Skills Required

• Extensive experience with protein expression systems including bacterial, mammalian, and insect cells.
• Strong expertise in protein purification and quality control methodologies.
• Proficiency in biophysical characterization techniques such as SPR, ITC, SEC-MALS, CD, DLS, and HDX-MS.
• Hands-on experience with structural biology methods, including X-ray crystallography and/or cryo-electron microscopy, alongside familiarity with associated software pipelines.
• Competence in computational protein design tools such as Rosetta, AlphaFold, or ESMFold, as well as scripting languages like Python and PyMOL scripting.

Qualifications and Experience

• Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry, Structural Biology, Biophysics, Computational Biology, Bioengineering, or related disciplines.
• A minimum of 8 to 10 years of postdoctoral research or industrial experience.
• At least 3 to 5 years of experience in leadership or supervisory roles within scientific research environments.

Professional Attributes

• Demonstrated scientific productivity with publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
• Proven ability to manage complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and lead interdisciplinary teams effectively.

Equal Opportunity Employment

Duke University is committed to equal employment opportunities irrespective of age, race, gender identity or expression, disability, sexual orientation, religion, military status, or any other protected characteristic. The University will consider disclosures relating to past misconduct or investigations as part of the hiring process, using them for further discussion without automatic disqualification or sharing with search committees.

Additional Information

Some roles at Duke may require specific physical or mental capabilities to fulfill essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request by the hiring department.