Join Our Lab
We are always interested in hearing from motivated people!
Postdoctoral Researchers
We are looking for talented and innovative individuals to pursue postdoctoral fellowship training in our lab. Candidates should be soon-to-be or recent Ph.D. and/or M.D. graduates. Prior experience with protein biochemistry, medicinal chemistry, cancer biology or related fields is preferred. Prospective postdoctoral fellows should email Hojong.
Please include a cover letter describing your research experience, research interests or project ideas and career goals. Please also include your CV, as well as names and contact details for two to three references. A reference letter from your Ph.D. advisor should be sent directly to Hojong.
See open postdoctoral positions below.
Research Technicians
We are looking for talented and enthusiastic research technicians! Previous laboratory research experience is preferred, and a minimum two-year commitment is preferred. Applicants should email Hojong.
Please include a cover letter describing your previous research and lab experience, technical and administrative skills, career goals and what about our lab interests you.
Graduate Students
We have openings for graduate students through the Cancer Biology and Therapeutics and Pharmacology programs in The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center UTHealth Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Ph.D. program. If you are a current Ph.D. student interested in a rotation, please email Hojong.
Our lab will train you to:
- Be a critical thinker with bold ideas — no idea is too bold to try. We encourage risky ideas and crazy experiments, where 'What if?' turns into 'Why not?', and boundaries are just challenges to push through.
- Excel in science communication, particularly as a chemical biologist who can bridge chemistry and biology in drug discovery and cancer research.
- Stay organized and master multitasking — Hojong used to be pretty bad at organizing and multitasking.
- Be an efficient researcher — our focus is on smart work and efficiency, not just clocking long hours. Of course, hard work is essential when needed, but self-motivation and smart strategies will get you further.
- Enjoy doing science! We believe science should be fun and driven by curiosity. Happiness comes first, and from that, we can make groundbreaking discoveries.
You may be a good fit for our lab if:
- You are passionate about small molecule drug discovery but want to explore new/uncharted directions — not simply following paths others have already established. Our lab's sprit is about taking bold approaches and finding interesting small molecules in order to tackle challenges that haven't been solved before.
- You value collaboration, openness and a willingness to share knowledge. In the Yoon Lab, transparency is essential. All resources — presentation files, lab notes, protocols, fellowship application materials — will be openly shared through our intranet, with no secrets. If you prefer to keep your methods private or have concerns about sharing resources, our lab might not be the best fit. However, if you bring an open mind and are excited to share and learn, you’ll find many exciting opportunities to grow and succeed here.
Why Research at UT MD Anderson
See how our culture of collaboration, connectivity and data-based science provides the ideal research environment.
Postdoctoral Fellow (Medicinal Chemistry)
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow (Medicinal Chemistry)
Department: Experimental Therapeutics
Reports to: Hojong Yoon, Ph.D.
Job Description:
We are seeking a talented and highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to participate in the development of molecular glues and related novel modalities. While we consider various backgrounds, a strong interest in understanding how small molecule tools work, as well as the desire to tackle a major problem of great significance are absolutely essential. The position will allow the candidate to develop valuable new skills and experience in molecular glue discovery, assay-development, target validation, targeted protein degradation and chemical biology. Position includes a competitive salary and generous benefits through the UT system. The postdoctoral fellow will receive training in research design, techniques, data analysis, presentation skills and manuscript writing.
Responsibilities:
- Design and synthesize small molecules and characterize their structures.
- Maintain small molecule screening libraries.
- Collaborate effectively with biologists in the lab and with translational research groups.
- Supervise and train other researchers in experimental techniques.
- Prepare and write scientific manuscripts, patent and fellowship applications in collaboration with the principal investigator.
- Attend and present findings at internal, local and national meetings.
Requirements:
- Ph.D. in medicinal chemistry, organic chemistry, drug discovery or related field.
- Candidates should possess training in multi-step organic synthesis.
- Candidates with experience in structure-guided drug design and proficiency in small molecule design using computational tools are encouraged to apply.
- Ability to work in a collaborative and team environment.
Postdoctoral Fellow (Biochemistry)
Position: Postdoctoral Fellow (biochemistry)
Department: Experimental Therapeutics
Reports to: Hojong Yoon, Ph.D.
Job Description:
We are seeking a talented and highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to participate in development of molecular glues and related novel modalities . While we consider various backgrounds, a strong interest in understanding how small molecule tools work and the desire to tackle a major problem of great significance are absolutely essential. The position will allow the candidate to develop valuable new skills and experience in molecular glue discovery, assay-development, target validation, targeted protein degradation and chemical biology. Position includes a competitive salary and generous benefits through the UT system. The postdoctoral fellow will receive training in research design, techniques, data analysis, presentation skills and manuscript writing.
Responsibilities:
- Assay development and mechanism of action studies
- Collaborate effectively with medicinal chemists in the lab and with translational research groups
- Supervise and train other researchers in experimental techniques
- Prepare and write scientific manuscripts, patent and fellowship applications in collaboration with the principal investigator
- Attend and present findings at internal, local and national meetings
Requirements:
- Ph.D. in chemical biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology or related field
- Candidates with drug screening experience are encouraged to apply
- Candidates with structural biology techniques (cryo-EM) are encouraged to apply
- Ability to work in a collaborative and team environment
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Research Areas
Find out about the four types of research taking place at UT MD Anderson.