General Description

The O'Brien Lab in the Department of Biophysics and Biophysical Chemistry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine recently opened in August of 2024, and seeks a postdoctoral fellow interested in the discovery and mechanistic characterization of new G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) ligands as drug leads with a variety of cutting-edge technologies. This work will involve membrane protein biochemistry, selection methodologies, structural biology (cryo-EM), and protein dynamics techniques. This work will be extremely multidisciplinary and involve collaboration across many areas of the drug discovery pipeline, with expertise gained in nearly all areas of early drug discovery. The target start date is negotiable.

Dr. Evan O'Brien did his graduate work at the University of Pennsylvania where he used solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to demonstrate the highly dynamic nature of methyl-bearing side chains in membrane proteins. He followed this up with postdoctoral work in the lab of Dr. Brian Kobilka at Stanford University where he worked towards both characterizing complex mechanisms of allosteric modulation of human GPCRs and discovering and demonstrating the utility of novel small molecule GPCR allosteric modulators. This work resulted in the discovery of the first class of opioid receptor negative allosteric modulators as well as demonstrated their distinct mechanism of activity.

Qualifications

Candidates will have a strong background in protein biochemistry/biophysics, cryo-EM, protein dynamics, and/or computational biology, have a sense of independence, and should be motivated to learn and perfect a wide array of skills/techniques. The postdoc will have a central role in starting the lab, developing GPCR drug discovery efforts at Johns Hopkins, and fostering an open and collaborative environment for membrane protein biophysics throughout the rich scientific community at Johns Hopkins. Applicants must also have excellent communication skills. The applicant must have a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in a related field by the start date.

Application Instructions

Interested applicants should apply directly to Dr. O'Brien by sending cover letter (especially indicating future project and technique interests), C.V., and contact information for three references to: eobrie26@jh.edu.

Department: http://biophysics.med.jhmi.edu/

Additional Information

Salary Range

The referenced salary range represents the minimum and maximum salaries for this position and is based on Johns Hopkins University's good faith belief at the time of posting. Not all candidates will be eligible for the upper end of the salary range. The actual compensation offered to the selected candidate may vary and will ultimately depend on multiple factors, which may include the successful candidate's geographic location, skills, work experience, internal equity, market conditions, education/training and other factors, as reasonably determined by the University.

Total Rewards

Johns Hopkins offers a total rewards package that supports our employees' health, life, career and retirement. More information can be found here: https://hr.jhu.edu/benefits-worklife/.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Johns Hopkins University is committed to equal opportunity for its faculty, staff, and students. To that end, the university does not discriminate on the basis of sex, gender, marital status, pregnancy, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or other legally protected characteristic. The university is committed to providing qualified individuals access to all academic and employment programs, benefits and activities on the basis of demonstrated ability, performance and merit without regard to personal factors that are irrelevant to the program involved.

Pre-Employment Information

If you are interested in applying for employment with The Johns Hopkins University and require special assistance or accommodation during any part of the pre-employment process, please contact the HR Business Services Office at jhurecruitment@jhu.edu. For TTY users, call via Maryland Relay or dial 711. For more information about workplace accommodations or accessibility at Johns Hopkins University, please visit accessibility.jhu.edu.

Background Checks

The successful candidate(s) for this position will be subject to a pre-employment background check including education verification.

EEO is the Law:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights6.12ScreenRdr.pdf

Diversity and Inclusion

The Johns Hopkins University values diversity, equity and inclusion and advances these through our key strategic framework, the JHU Roadmap on Diversity and Inclusion.

Vaccine Requirements

Johns Hopkins University strongly encourages, but no longer requires, at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine does not apply to positions located in the State of Florida. We still require all faculty, staff, and students to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. Exceptions to the COVID and flu vaccine requirements may be provided to individuals for religious beliefs or medical reasons. Requests for an exception must be submitted to the JHU vaccination registry. This change does not apply to the School of Medicine (SOM). SOM hires must be fully vaccinated with an FDA COVID-19 vaccination and provide proof of vaccination status. For additional information, applicants for SOM positions should visit https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/coronavirus/covid-19-vaccine/ and all other JHU applicants should visit https://covidinfo.jhu.edu/health-safety/covid-vaccination-information/.

The following additional provisions may apply, depending upon campus. Your recruiter will advise accordingly. The pre-employment physical for positions in clinical areas, laboratories, working with research subjects, or involving community contact requires documentation of immune status against Rubella (German measles), Rubeola (Measles), Mumps, Varicella (chickenpox), Hepatitis B and documentation of having received the Tdap (Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccination. This may include documentation of having two (2) MMR vaccines; two (2) Varicella vaccines; or antibody status to these diseases from laboratory testing. Blood tests for immunities to these diseases are ordinarily included in the pre-employment physical exam except for those employees who provide results of blood tests or immunization documentation from their own health care providers. Any vaccinations required for these diseases will be given at no cost in our Occupational Health office.

About Johns Hopkins University

Johns Hopkins University remains committed to its founding principle, that education for all students should be grounded in exploration and discovery. Hopkins students are challenged not just to learn but also to advance learning itself. Critical thinking, problem solving, creativity, and entrepreneurship are all encouraged and nourished in this unique educational environment. After more than 130 years, Johns Hopkins remains a world leader in both teaching and research. Faculty members and their research colleagues at the university's Applied Physics Laboratory have each year since 1979 won Johns Hopkins more federal research and development funding than any other university. The university has nine academic divisions and campuses throughout the Baltimore-Washington area. The Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, the Whiting School of Engineering, the School of Education and the Carey Business School are based at the Homewood campus in northern Baltimore. The schools of Medicine, Public Health, and Nursing share a campus in east Baltimore with The Johns Hopkins Hospital. The Peabody Institute, a leading professional school of music, is located on Mount Vernon Place in downtown Bal...timore. The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies is located in Washington's Dupont Circle area.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at Johns Hopkins University