Who is Saint Louis University? Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation's oldest and most prestigious Catholic universities. SLU, which also has a campus in Madrid, Spain, is recognized for world-class academics, life-changing research, compassionate health care, and a strong commitment to faith and service.

A postdoctoral position is available immediately in the lab of Gucan "Gabriel" Dai at the Edward A. Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Candidates with a strong publication record in biophysics and biochemistry in ion channels or membrane proteins are encouraged to apply. Past experiences in patch-clamp electrophysiology or fluorescence cell imaging using advanced microscopy are preferred but not required. The Dai lab combines structural biology, chemical biology, genetics, fluorescence microscopy and electrophysiological methods to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying ion channels of excitable membranes. The candidate is expected to publish high-impact papers as a lead author and apply for academic faculty positions or leadership positions in industry after receiving this training. The research directions in the lab are summarized in below. Applicants who are interested in this position should contact:gucan.dai@health.slu.edu

(1) Voltage-sensing and electromechanical-coupling mechanisms of voltage-gated ion channels that are important for diseases including chronic pain, cardiac arrhythmia and epileptic seizures Main areas and techniques to learn for a trainee includepatch-clamp fluorometry (PCF), Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) as well as the application of fluorescent noncanonical amino acids (ncAAs).

(2) Ligand-dependent gating mechanisms of ion channels and protein allostery for ligand binding. Trainees are expected to learn theories in binding, gating, affinity and efficacy for ligand-gated channels, structure-activity relationship, kinetic modeling and fast kinetics measurements.

(3)Mechanisms underlying the lipid-mediated regulation of ion channels and the lipid membrane dynamics that are critical for the inflammatory and neuropathic pain, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy and viral infections. Additional techniques in this direction include whole-cell fluorometry, Ca2+imaging, TIRF microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and the super-resolution nanoscopy.

Saint Louis University requires COVID-19 vaccinations and a booster dose for all students, staff, and faculty who are physically present on our St. Louis campuses. As a prospective and/or a new employee at Saint Louis University, you will be/are required to comply with the University's vaccination protocol. Proof of full vaccination is required before the start of employment in order to work at Saint Louis University. If you are not vaccinated, you are required to begin the vaccination process at the time of your first day of employment and submit proof of full vaccination within 30 days of your start date. Exemptions may be granted on the grounds of religious beliefs or medical circumstances. Failure to comply with the vaccine requirement within 30 days of an employee's start date will result in termination of the employment. Proof of vaccine will be submitted through an online portal made available to you during your Workday onboarding tasks.

The University will require all students, faculty and staff to obtain a booster vaccine dose prior to their start date, This applies to:
* All adults over the age of 18 years who completed their vaccine series with Pfizer or Moderna at least 6 months ago.
* Those who received the J&J vaccine at least two months ago.

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Saint Louis University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for the position applied for without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, gender identity, or other non-merit factors. We welcome and encourage applications from minorities, women, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities (including disabled veterans). If accommodations are needed for completing the application and/or with the interviewing process, please contact Human Resources at 314-977-5847.