Come join an excellent team of researchers dedicated to coming closer to the mission of St Jude, that no child will die in the dawn of life. The Kalodimos Lab at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is seeking a highly skilled and motivated (Senior) Bioinformatics Research Scientist to join our prestigious Blue Sky Kinase project. Led by Dr. Charalampos Kalodimos and Dr. Madan Babu, this exciting initiative is funded by over $50 million, providing exceptional resources and research conditions. For more information on the Blue Sky project visit our website at

Overview:

As a (Senior) Bioinformatics Research Scientist, you will play a pivotal role in our ligand discovery team, led by Dr. Christoph Gorgulla. Your primary mission will be to develop novel methods for computational hit and lead identification based on (classical and quantum) machine learning, high-performance computing, molecular simulations, and ultra-large virtual screenings. Some of the new methods and features that you will develop will be added to the open-source VirtualFlow drug discovery platform.

Collaboration is at the heart of our work, and you will closely collaborate with our computational and wet-lab colleagues to validate and experimentally verify the predicted hit and lead compounds. By working together in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, you will have the opportunity to contribute to multiple ligand/drug discovery projects and make a lasting impact on the lives of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

At St. Jude, working is more than just a job - it's a calling. Each member of our team is united by a shared purpose: finding cures and saving children. In addition to the meaningful work you will undertake, we offer a range of perks to enhance your experience, including access to an on-site gym, an excellent benefits package, and an exceptionally warm and friendly atmosphere. To learn more about the unexpected perks of working at St. Jude, visit our website at

We understand the evolving nature of work and offer remote/hybrid work arrangements, which can be discussed on a case-by-case basis. The anticipated start date for this position is early July, although we are flexible to accommodate the needs of exceptional candidates.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead computationally focused scientific research projects with minimal to moderate supervision.

• Develop new methods and pipelines for computational hit and lead identification based on (classical and quantum) machine learning and (classical and quantum) chemistry.

• Identify, process, organize, summarize, review, and report relevant data.

• Interacting and collaborating with computational colleagues working, e.g. supporting them in their projects, or training them on how to use the newly developed methods.

• Manuscript preparation, submission, and the review process will be part of their responsibilities, under the supervision of Dr.Gorgulla, ensuring that the lab's findings are disseminated to the scientific community.

• Actively participate in independent research projects and collaborate with interdepartmental teams, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex scientific challenges.

• Present research findings to internal and external audiences (e.g. on conferences), contributing to the hospital's mission of advancing pediatric research.

• Provide research support and deliver high-quality results by formulating an efficient analytical approach with the available data.
• Deliver data files, and document the analytical process.
• Assist with establishing and documenting protocols or best practices for common research tasks, and in the formulation of analytical plans that use the best approach to address challenging data analysis questions.
• Assist in the evaluation and testing of new methods and technologies.
• Participate in the department's developmental projects and interdepartmental team projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet the goals and objectives of the department and institution.
• Maintains regular and predictable attendance.

Minimum Education and/or Training:

• Bachelor's degree in bioinformatics, cheminformatics, statistics/computer science (with a background in biological sciences or chemistry) or related field.
• Master's degree or PhD highly preferred.

Minimum Experience:

• Minimum Requirement: Bachelor's degree with 7+ years of relevant post-degree work in bioinformatics, cheminformatics, statistics/computer science (with a background in biological sciences or chemistry).
• Experience Exception: Master's degree with 5+ years of relevant post-degree experience (OR) PhD with 2+ years of relevant post-degree experience.
• Significant experience in at least one programming or scripting language and at least one statistical package, with R preferred.

Licensure, Registration and/or Certification Required by Law:

• None

Special Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Experience with molecular dockings, structure-based virtual screens, and machine learning/deep learning-based drug discovery

• Programming skills in Python

• Experience with the Linux command line (in particular bash)

• Experience with computer clusters, cloud computing (AWS or Google Cloud), and/or using GPUs

• Automates multiple cloud computing tasks.
• Coordinates data collection, database implementation, and usage.
• Oversees QC on the data to be loaded into the database.
• Works with IS to set up and install recommended software related to database collection.
• Creates novel visualization to help data interpretation.
• Leads evaluation and testing of new methods and technologies. Contributes ideas to automate or improve existing analysis methods.
• Establishes protocols or best practices for common research tasks and SOPs.
• Leads evaluation of products and solutions, makes recommendations, and integrates solutions.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; kneel, use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
• The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
• An essential function of the job is to be able to comply with all applicable federal, state and local safety and health regulations that would apply to this job.
• The employee must move about the work space to access work surface and shelves, cabinets, drawers, and equipment that are at, below or above the work surface.
• Nothing in this job description limits management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time as business needs dictate. This job description reflects management's assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. The information contained herein is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of the duties and responsibilities of the job, nor is it intended to be an all-inclusive list of the skills and abilities required to do the job.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has a diverse, global patient population and workforce, built on the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion. Our founder Danny Thomas envisioned a hospital that would treat children of the world-regardless of race, religion or a family's ability to pay.

Today, we continue the mission to advance cures and means of prevention for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. As we accelerate this progress globally, we believe our legacy of diversity, equity and inclusion is foundational to success. With the commitment of leaders at all levels of the organization, we strive to ensure the St. Jude culture, leadership approaches and talent processes are equitable and culturally responsive. View our to learn about the hospital's roots in diversity, equity and inclusion, where we are today and our aspirations for an even better future.