美国宾夕法尼亚大学佩雷尔曼医学院招收神经表观遗传学博士后

　　美国宾夕法尼亚大学佩雷尔曼医学院招收神经表观遗传学博士后

　　Postdoctoral positions available in the Heller Laboratory of Neuroepigenetics

　　The Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.

　　Research Focus

　　The Heller Lab studies the mechanisms by which epigenetic remodeling regulates gene function, in the context of neuropsychiatric diseases such as addiction and depression. To approach this problem, we directly manipulate histone and DNA modifications at specific genes in vivo, using viral delivery of novel epigenetic editing tools, such as CRISPR/dCas9-fusion proteins. This approach allows direct elucidation of the causal relevance of epigenetic remodeling in the brain. Because addiction and depression persist long after cessation of the harmful experience, epigenetic remodeling is an attractive underlying mechanism and presents an intriguing target for therapeutic intervention. Further information on the Heller Lab:

　　http://www.med.upenn.edu/hellerlab/ and the University of Pennsylvania Biomedical Postdoctoral Program: https://www.med.upenn.edu/postdoc/.

　　The Heller Lab has recently received funding from The SynGAP Research Fund to explore epigenetic regulation of SynGAP1. SynGAP1 codes for a synaptic protein required for proper development and synaptic function. Human mutations in SynGAP1 lead to pervasive developmental delay and epilepsy. However, there is little known about the regulatory mechanisms underlying its expression. The Heller Lab will pursue this new line of investigation with the hiring of a dedicated postdoctoral fellow. For further information see https://syngapresearchfund.org/.

　　Environment

　　The University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine is a world leader in biomedical research, boasting over $800M in annual research funding and ranked third nationwide among the best medical schools in research. The campus is adjacent to the main campus of the University of Pennsylvania which includes the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Departments in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, as well as the Children’ Hospital of Philadelphia. The Heller Lab is housed in the Department of Pharmacology, and Dr. Heller is a member of the Penn Epigenetics Institute, as well as the Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics.