Postdoc / Computational Researcher (Quantum Computing for Chemistry and Biology)

Join an excellent team of researchers dedicated to coming closer to the mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, that no child will die at the dawn of life. The Quantum AI for Bio (QAI4Bio) Lab led by Dr. Christoph Gorgulla in the Center of Excellence for Data-Driven Discovery in the Structural Biology Department seeks a skilled and highly motivated Postdoc or Computational Researcher in quantum machine learning . Our research group is focused on developing state-of-the-art computational methods for ligand / drug discovery, using machine learning, high-performance / cloud computing, and quantum chemistry and quantum computing. Our group also includes a wet lab dedicated to experimentally verifying the computationally predicted results in real-world drug discovery projects.

You will join an interdisciplinary team to push the boundaries of whats possible at the intersection of artificial intelligence and molecular modeling, building novel AI systems to advance discovery in chemistry, ligand discovery, and quantum approaches.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead collaborative projects, mentor junior scientists and students, and contribute to high-impact publications. By working together in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment, you will have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

The position can be a Postdoc position or a Computational Researcher position, depending on the preference of the candidate.

Key Responsibilities :

• Develop and optimize quantum machine learning methods for problems in molecular modeling (e.g. drug discovery and / or quantum chemistry)
• Collaborate with computational chemists, structural biologists, and experimental scientists within the QAI4Bio Lab and the broader Structural Biology Department.
• Collaborate closely with domain scientists to define impactful research directions and translate theory into practice
• Contribute to large-scale computational pipelines for tasks such as molecular property prediction, drug discovery, or quantum circuit design
• Publish high-quality research in top-tier journals and conferences
• Work with colleagues to deploy models into production research platforms or scientific software tools

Required Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications :

About St. Jude

St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital is a world-class research institution dedicated to pediatric cancer and other catastrophic diseases of childhood. The first and only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Our 300 faculty work across the spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and population science in a highly collaborative multidisciplinary environment that includes a Nobel laureate and members of the National Academy of Science and the National Academy of Medicine. St. Jude is ranked on Fortune Magazines Best Workplaces in Health Care & Biopharma and Glassdoors Best Places to Work. St. Jude is one of the best-funded research institutes in the US with an annual budget of over $2 billion per year ( https : / / www.stjude.org / about-st-jude / financials.html ).

Working at St. Jude is a remarkable and special experience in many ways.

Top Employer

St. Jude was among the top 10 large employers in the US in 2024, ahead of Google, Microsoft and Apple : https : / / www.forbes.com / lists / best-large-employers / ?sh=70605b987b66

Top Employer for Women : St. Jude is also among the top 10 employers for women in the US : https : / / www.forbes.com / lists / best-employers-women /

St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital is high school and college students top dream employer, according to the National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS) 2018 Career Interest Survey. https : / / www.hrdive.com / news / st-judes-tops-list-of-students-dream-employers / 526201 /

About Memphis

St. Jude is located in the heart of Memphis, Tennessee, a vibrant and friendly city at the historic American crossroads of music, trade, food, and culture. Living in Memphis provides several unique advantages, including :

Work Location

We highly value the dynamic and collaborative environment fostered by in-person or hybrid work arrangements, which allows for seamless direct engagement and deep team synergy. In exceptional cases, we are also open to exploring fully remote work, with regular periodic travel to our Memphis campus for essential meetings and key collaborative sessions.

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