比利时鲁汶大学心脏病学研究相关博士后职位招聘

For the Experimental Cardiology lab we are looking for a postdoc researcher to explore the Epigenetic control of cardiac differentiation, growth and adaptation.

The Department has the entire range of competences from basic science, over pre-clinical modeling to applied clinical and epidemiological research taking a systems approach to the complexity of cardiovascular disorders. The division of Experimental Cardiology is part of the cluster 'Cardiac structure and function' investigating cardiac structural, contractile and electrical remodeling processes during cardiovascular disease both at cellular and organ level including molecular mechanisms, left and right ventricular mechanics and impact of different interventions and anaesthetics.

Responsibilities

The research will focus on investigating the contribution of the DNA methylation (and its derivatives) and to regulation of cardiac myocyte phenotype – including regulation of growth and proliferation.

Background:

Epigenetic mechanisms play fundamental roles in the regulation and establishment of gene expression patterns required for the specification of the various tissues of the body. Alterations in the epigenome brought about by environmental cues or pathologies results in cellular dedifferentiation or alteration of cell phenotype that are the sustained by the modified epigenome. Through development into adulthood and then in response to ageing, pathological cues or exercise, the heart undergoes significant hypertrophic remodelling. Given that adult cardiac myocytes are predominantly post-mitotic, this growth arises through cellular enlargement not proliferation. Underlying these changes the cardiac myocyte transcriptome must be substantially remodelled/reprogrammed to bring about the phenotypic alteration.

Research Goal:

To understand the contribution of the epigenome to mediating and stabilising the altered phenotypic states of the cardiac myocyte. Aims will include investigating the role and mechanism by which the epigenome participates in controlling growth and proliferation of cardiac myocytes. The project will also aim to establish the epigenetic mediators and the environmental cues/signalling pathways that cause changes in the activity of the actors in this process. How different epigenetic marks are integrated to bring about a specific response – for example to grow or proliferate will be investigated. Given the post-mitotic nature of cardiac myocytes, the project will also aim to determine the contribution of cellular variation to bring about the altered phenotype of the heart.

Strategy:

High throughput sequencing approaches are employed to analyse changes in the epigenome and impact upon the transcriptome in validated preclinical animal models of disease and in human tissue. Single cell approaches will be employed to establish causal relationships between the genome/epigenome and transcriptome and to investigate tissue heterogeneity. In vitro models and GM animals are used in combination to investigate the role of identified epigenetic mediators in cardiomyocyte fate choices.

Selected references

Feng, S., Jacobsen, S.E. & Reik, W., 2010. Epigenetic reprogramming in plant and animal development. Science (New York, NY), 330(6004), pp.622-627.

Drawnel, F.M. et al., 2012. Mutual antagonism between IP3RII and miRNA-133a regulates calcium signals and cardiac hypertrophy. The Journal of Cell Biology, 199(5), pp.783-798.

Tingare, A., Thienpont, B. & Roderick, H.L., 2013. Epigenetics in the heart: the role of histone modifications in cardiac remodelling. Biochemical Society Transactions, 41(3), pp.789-796.

The research is supported by Odysseus financing to L. Roderick. The lab has extensive facilities for molecular analysis of cardiomyocyte function, access to Institute facilities in nucleomics and flow cytometry and access to relevant large animal models.

The laboratory collaborates extensively within investigators with KU Leuven and outside in the areas of epigenetic research, single cell epigenomics, animal models and bioinformatics.

Profile

You hold a PhD or equivalent in Biomedical or Life Sciences or in Bioinformatics/Biostatistics with in depth knowledge of relevant areas. Experience in analysis of next generation sequencing data and a working knowledge of R is highly advantageous.

You are a team player with excellent communication skills in English.

You are ambitious and enthusiastic and have the motivation to address challenging questions and generate high quality and relevant research.

Offer

We offer a full-time postdoctoral fellowship for 3 years, with possibility for extension; opportunities are available for candidates to apply for independent funding.

KU Leuven offers a stimulating environment for international students and support for junior scientists.

The position is immediately available but the start date is flexible.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. H Llewelyn Roderick, tel.: +32 16 37 71 50, mail: llewelyn.roderick@kuleuven.be.
You can apply for this job no later than June 05, 2015 via the online application tool…