比利时安特卫普大学招收分子遗传学博士后

Postdoctoral Scientist - Studying Peripheral Neuropathies in Drosophila : Antwerp, Belgium

We are a highly motivated and multidisciplinary team at the VIB Department of Molecular Genetics (http://www.vib.be/en/research/scientists/Pages/Albena-Jordanova-Lab.aspx) looking for an enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher to join our lab for 2 years (with possibilities for extension).

Main topic of our lab is studying the molecular mechanisms underlying peripheral neuropathies that are associated with defects in aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases. This field of research stems from our findings that mutations in the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS), similarly to defects in five other synthetases, cause dying-back degeneration of the peripheral nerves and lead to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT). We established that CMT neuropathy is not due to haploinsufficiency of TyrRS enzymatic activity, but to a gain-of-function alteration of the mutant protein or interference with an unknown function of the wild type protein. To gain insights in disease pathology we developed and characterized the first Drosophila model for CMT. Transgenic flies expressing CMT-causing TyrRS mutations have progressive motor deficit, electrophysiological dysfunction and terminal axonal degeneration, thus closely recapitulating the molecular and cellular hallmarks of human disease. Currently, we are applying both unbiased and hypothesis-driven approaches in flies and patient-derived cells to understand the crucial pathways affected by mutant TyrRS and how this contributes to neurodegeneration. We further search for common and specific neurodegenerative pathways between TyrRS and the other tRNA- synthetases implicated in CMT disease.

The main methods that are used in our lab are:

• Fly and human genetics, molecular genetics and transcriptomics;
• Behavioral assays in Drosophila;
• Electrophysiological recordings of fly NMJ and the giant fiber circuit;
• Confocal and electron microscopy.

The postdoctoral researcher will be embedded in an ongoing project and will have the opportunity to use characterized transgenic flies, results from modifier screens, transcriptomics data and available patients’ biosamples in order to generate hypotheses and gain original insights on the alternative function(s) of TyrRS and its role in human neurodegeneration.

As part of the Department of Molecular Genetics (http://www.molgen.vib-ua.be) and VIB, the successful applicant will benefit from established collaborations and will have access to centralized facilities with expertise in functional genomics and cell biology, proteomics, cutting-edge microscopy, structural biology, technology development, and bio-informatics. VIB provides a highly interactive environment and ample training opportunities for PhD and postdoctoral researchers. In addition, the VIB Department of Molecular Genetics is located in the city of Antwerp, the capital of Flanders, offering a culturally and historically rich, and ethnically diverse environment.

​Postdoctoral candidates are expected to have:

• PhD degree with at least one accepted first-author publication in an international peer-reviewed journal;
• Background in Drosophila (neuro)biology and genetics;
• Experience in molecular and cell biology would be an advantage;
• Excellent verbal and written English communication skills….