Lauren will give a short talk on our very first single particle cryoEM structure at the combined ASCB/EMBO meeting in San Diego. Her talk will take place Tuesday, Dec 11th, at 4:15pm during the Organelle Homeostasis Minisymposium. Amy, Natalie, and Betty are all coming, so it will be a Jackson lab party!

Delighted to welcome a new IGP rotation student into the lab. Ivette Perez joined us this week. So glad to have you!

We're delighted to welcome a new QCB rotation student, Phyllis Wang, to the lab to kick off the new year. Glad you joined us, Phyllis!

Natalie passed her qualifying exam today with flying colors. Well done, Natalie, on achieving a fantastic milestone!

STRUCTURE & MECHANISM IN MEMBRANE TRAFFICKING
 
Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
 
The Jackson Lab is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic postdoc to join our team to work on structures and functions of coat complexes in membrane trafficking, autophagy, and human disease. We employ a range of techniques in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, and cell biology to investigate cargo recognition, assembly, and regulation of coats. We aim to understand both the fundamental cell biology of how coats mediate trafficking events, as well as the molecular bases for neurological diseases associated with mutated coats.
 
This position may suit a cell biologist seeking to learn modern structural methods (X-ray crystallography, single particle cryoEM) or a biochemist/structural biologist wanting to extend his/her repertoire to include cell biology. Experience in molecular cloning, protein expression, and protein purification from E. coli is preferred. Previous structural or tissue culture experience is not required but may be advantageous; cryoEM experience would be very advantageous. We have excellent structural biology facilities, including a new Titan Krios coming online late 2018.
 
You must hold a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in biochemistry, structural biology, cell biology, or a related discipline and demonstrate a track record in conducting high quality original research. Please send a CV, cover letter, and three letters of recommendation to Lauren (lauren.p.jackson@vanderbilt.edu). We will consider candidates until the position is filled. The tentative start date is Sept 1, 2018.
 
The Jackson lab is Funded by NIH and the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the lab is affiliated with the Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, and Epithelial Biology Center. We are located in Nashville, TN, a vibrant city with fantastic neighborhoods, restaurants, cafés, music, parks, and outdoor activities. For current and previous work, check out our website at www.jackson-lab.com or contact Lauren directly.

Research Assistant I
Apply here

​Jackson Lab
Vanderbilt University
 
The Jackson lab is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Research Assistant I to join our team to work on structures and functions of membrane trafficking protein complexes in cell biology and human disease. We employ a range of techniques in biochemistry, biophysics, structural biology, and cell biology to investigate cargo recognition, assembly, and regulation of coats. We aim to understand both the fundamental cell biology of how coats mediate trafficking pathways, as well as the molecular bases for neurological diseases associated with mutated coats.
 
This position will include the following responsibilities:

• Undertake molecular cloning, including mutagenesis
• Express and purify proteins from bacteria, insect, and/or mammalian cells
• Maintain mammalian cell culture
• Teach & train undergraduate researchers
• Prepare laboratory reagents and stock solutions
• Maintain general laboratory equipment
• Ordering and procurement

 
Previous research experience is strongly preferred. Experience with relevant techniques is advantageous but not required. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences.
 
Please send a CV or resume and cover letter (both required) and 1-2 letters of recommendation to Lauren Jackson (lauren.p.jackson@vanderbilt.edu). We will consider candidates until the position is filled; the tentative start date is September 1, 2018.
 
The Jackson lab is funded by NIH NIGMS and the Pew Charitable Trusts, and the lab is affiliated with the Vanderbilt Center for Structural Biology, Vanderbilt Brain Institute, and Epithelial Biology Center. We are located in Nashville, TN, a vibrant city with fantastic neighborhoods, restaurants, cafés, music, parks, and outdoor activities. 

.The Jackson lab is actively recruiting graduate students and has multiple exciting projects available for 2018-19. We always pair students with experienced lab members to help and support your training. We feel it's important for students to have their own project but also to interact with other lab members to see the full breadth of what we do. Please email Lauren if you're interested!

Crystallization & crystallography
1. cell cycle protein domain
2. multiple trafficking protein domains

Electron microscopy of endosomal coat complexes
1. Single particle cryoEM data processing & model refinement
2. F20 data collection & processing to obtain class averages
3. Single particle data collection (Titan Krios comes online here late 2018)

Cell biology
1. Cargo assays to test structure-based assembly mechanisms
2. Imaging in mammalian cultured cell lines

Biochemistry
1. Protein expression & purification projects a-plenty
2. Pulldown assays to test direct binding between coats & new protein partners

Meredith won the Graduate Student Research Excellence Award in Biological Sciences at our annual departmental retreat. We are so proud of her accomplishments over her Ph.D. and wish her the best as she begins her postdoc at UNC Chapel Hill!

as.vanderbilt.edu/biosci/graduate/awardsgraduate.php

We held our annual lab retreat at Pinewood Social in downtown Nashville. A few highlights before we were displaced by not one, but two, bachelorette parties... :/