Postdoctoral Associate (L,P,S)

Postdoctoral Associate (L,P,S)

• 511209
• Main Campus - Starkville, MS
• Mississippi - Main Campus
• 031900 - Chemistry
• Professional
• Regular Full-Time 12-month
• Opening on: Sep 10 2026

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Position Function:

Vacancy for a postdoctoral associate focused on the synthesis of organic fluorophores and cellular culturing

Salary Grade: UC

For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

For more information on the Department of Chemistry, please visit www.chemistry.msstate.edu

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Design and synthesize functional organic fluorophores and related molecular probes.
• Develop and optimize synthetic methodologies for dye functionalization.
• Culture and maintain mammalian cell lines under sterile conditions.
• Evaluate dye uptake, localization, cytotoxicity, and imaging performance in cultured cells.
• Perform fluorescence microscopy, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, and related cellular imaging techniques.
• Analyze experimental data and correlate molecular structure with biological performance.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers in both synthetic chemistry and cell biology.
• Prepare manuscripts, present research findings at scientific conferences, and assist with proposal development.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry, Chemical Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, Biochemistry, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in multistep organic synthesis and compound characterization (NMR, MS, chromatography, etc.).
• Experience with mammalian cell culture and sterile laboratory techniques.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a multidisciplinary research team.

Preferred Qualifications:

Preference will be given to candidates with experience in one or more of the following:

• Fluorescent probe or dye synthesis.
• Confocal or fluorescence microscopy.
• Flow cytometry.
• Cell viability and cytotoxicity assays.
• Image analysis software (ImageJ/Fiji or equivalent).
• Experience with NIR/SWIR imaging, molecular imaging, or chemical biology.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Proven ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Regularly involves lifting and bending. Often exposed to one or more elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc.

Instructions for Applying:

Applicants should submit: 1. A cover letter describing research interests and relevant experience. 2. A current curriculum vitae. 3. A one-page summary of previous research accomplishments. 4. Contact information for three professional references.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

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