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Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Wachter Lab

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

BOSTON, MAFellowship$72–76K/yrSeen 1 day agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$72–76K/yr
Location
BOSTON, MA
Role Type
Fellowship
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Requirements

Credentials this posting asks for.

Doctorate

Job overview

The Wachter Lab seeks a postdoctoral research fellow to work on biochemistry and structural biology projects investigating molecular mechanisms of transcriptional control. The lab combines molecular, structural, and computational approaches to study transcriptional regulation associated with human diseases, including cancer. The fellow will join an interactive team and use insights from this research to test avenues for therapeutic development.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Structural BiologyBiochemistryBiophysicsMolecular BiologyComplex Project ExecutionExperimental Data AnalysisResearch Publication PreparationCommunicationCollaborationRecombinant Protein ExpressionProtein PurificationInsect Expression SystemsMammalian Expression SystemsX-Ray Structure DeterminationCryo-EM Structure DeterminationProtein Biophysical TechniquesIn Vitro BiochemistryEnzyme KineticsQuantitative SkillsComputational Skills

Qualifications

Recent PhD or Equivalent

Full job description

The Wachter Lab seeks a highly motivated individual to join the team as a POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOW who will work on biochemistry and structural biology projects addressing fundamental questions in our understanding of molecular mechanisms of transcriptional control. While we consider various backgrounds, a strong interest in understanding how molecular machines work and the desire to tackle a major problem of great significance are absolutely essential.

The Wachter Lab at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a Structural and Chemical Biology lab that combines molecular biology, structural biology, functional genomics and proteomics to study mechanisms of transcriptional regulation associated with human diseases, including cancer. The Wachter lab integrates structural biology, molecular biology and computational guided approaches to address fundamental questions about the mechanistic principles of transcription.

Our laboratory is based at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Longwood Center and is an affiliate of the pediatrics department at Harvard Medical School. We are affiliated with state-of-the-art facilities for structural biology (cryo-EM, X-ray crystallography, NMR), chemistry, biophysics, cellular imaging, etc. The lab is a member of the DFCI Chemical Biology Program with access to in house cryo EM screening. Join our highly interactive team to work on mechanisms of transcriptional control and leverage these insights to test new avenues for therapeutic development.

Located in Boston and the surrounding communities, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a leader in life changing breakthroughs in cancer research and patient care. We are united in our mission of conquering cancer, HIV/AIDS, and related diseases. We strive to create an inclusive, diverse, and equitable environment where we provide compassionate and comprehensive care to patients of all backgrounds, and design programs to promote public health particularly among high-risk and underserved populations. We conduct groundbreaking research that advances treatment, we educate tomorrow's physician/researchers, and we work with amazing partners, including other Harvard Medical School-affiliated hospitals.

Necessary Qualifications:

  • Recent Ph.D. or equivalent degree in structural biology (X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy), biochemistry, biophysics or molecular biology.

  • Proven ability to develop and execute on complex structural biology projects.

  • Ability to collect and analyze experimental data, prepare research publications and communicate results

  • Ability to work in a collaborative and team environment

  • Excellent oral and written capabilities

Expertise in two or more of the following areas:

  • Expertise in recombinant protein expression and purification

  • Experience with insect and/or mammalian expression systems

  • Proficiency in data collection and structure determination for either X-ray or cryo-EM

  • Experience with protein biophysical techniques

  • In vitro biochemistry and enzyme kinetics

  • Quantitative and computational skills

At Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, we work every day to create an innovative, caring, and inclusive environment where every patient, family, and staff member feels they belong. As relentless as we are in our mission to reduce the burden of cancer for all, we are committed to having faculty and staff who offer multifaceted experiences. Cancer knows no boundaries and when it comes to hiring the most dedicated and compassionate professionals, neither do we. If working in this kind of organization inspires you, we encourage you to apply.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is an equal opportunity employer and affirms the right of every qualified applicant to receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability, age, ancestry, military service, protected veteran status, or other characteristics protected by law.

EEO Poster

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Pay Transparency Statement

The hiring range is based on market pay structures, with individual salaries determined by factors such as business needs, market conditions, internal equity, and based on the candidate’s relevant experience, skills and qualifications.

For union positions, the pay range is determined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).

$72,000.00 - $76,385.00

How this job compares

Set against the 804 open Postdoctoral Researcher jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 4, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$72–76K/yr
  • Massachusetts median$68–80K/yr90 salary ranges
  • US median$69–80K/yr391 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $74K, is close to the Massachusetts median midpoint ($74K) — in the middle half of Postdoctoral Researcher salary ranges in Massachusetts.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 110 open Postdoctoral Researcher jobs in Massachusetts and 804 across the US. Under 1% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Massachusetts
Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 0 to 3 years (55 postings).
Education
This posting asks for a doctorate or professional degree; 670 of the 804 open Postdoctoral Researcher jobs (83%) ask for a doctorate or professional degree.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 4, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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