Research Specialist or Postdoctoral Fellow - Keleman Lab : Ashburn, VA, United States

Job Description

Job Summary:

The Keleman lab, at Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Janelia Research Campus, is seeking a research specialist/postdoctoral fellow to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying long-term memory in Drosophila.

The Keleman lab investigates the molecular and cellular processes that underlie plasticity of specific neuronal synapses during memory formation in Drosophila. These processes depend on the CPEB family of protein, Orb2. Recently Keleman lab found that dopamine triggers the formation of a complex of the two Orb2 isoforms, and that these complexes may mark specific synapses for modification by Orb2-dependent mRNA translation.

HHMI's Janelia Research Campus is a pioneering research center near Washington, D.C., where scientists from many disciplines develop and use emerging and innovative technologies to pursue science's most challenging problems. In particular, Janelia is focused on technologies for biological imaging and understanding neural circuits and how they give rise to behavior. Established in 2006, Janelia was modeled after institutes like Bell Labs, with small groups collaborating on high-risk, high-reward, innovative science. 

Principal Responsibilities:

To elucidate the mechanism of how Orb2 contributes to long-term plasticity in the specific neurons using a wide range of approaches including molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, behavior, and state of the art imaging.

Preferred Qualifications:

• PhD in/or Neuroscience, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry
• Strong background in Drosophila genetics, molecular biology, cell biology and/or neurobiology, biochemistry
• Ability to think independently and work collaboratively

Relevant publications:

1. Synaptic Orb2A bridges memory acquisition and late memory consolidation in Drosophila S. Kruettner, L. Traunmueller, U. Dag, K. Jandrasits, N. Iyer, L. G. Fradkin, J. N. Noordermeer, B.D. Mensh, K. Keleman. Cell Reports (2015), June 30 (11).

2. Drosophila CPEB Orb2A mediates memory independent of Its RNA-binding domain. Kru¿ttner S, Stepien B, Noordermeer JN, Mommaas MA, Mechtler K, Dickson BJ, Keleman K. Neuron. 2012 Oct 18;76(2):383-95

3. Function of the Drosophila CPEB protein Orb2 in long-term courtship memory. Keleman K*,Kruettner S, Alenius M, Dickson BJ. (2007) Nature Neuroscience 10: 1587-93