Postdoctoral Position in Neurodegeneration Research and RNA Biology : Baltimore, MD, United States

Postdoctoral opportunities are available in Dr. Shuying Sun’s laboratory at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. The lab will explore the fascinating frontiers of RNA metabolism dysfunction and RNA-targeting therapy in neurodegenerative diseases by combining molecular and cellular approaches, proteomic, genomic and screening platforms.

The nervous system has extremely complex RNA processing regulation and dysfunction of RNA metabolism has emerged to play crucial roles in multiple neurological diseases. Mutations and pathologies of several RNA-binding proteins are found to be associated with neurodegeneration in both amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). An alternative RNA-mediated toxicity arise from microsatellite repeat instability in the human genome. The expanded repeat-containing RNAs could potentially induce neuron toxicity by disrupting protein and RNA homeostasis through various mechanisms.

The Sun lab is interested in deciphering the RNA processing pathways altered by the ALS-causative mutants to uncover the mechanisms of toxicity and molecular basis of cell type-selective vulnerability. Another major focus of the group is to identify small molecule and genetic inhibitors of neuron toxic factors using various high-throughput screening platforms. Finally, we are also highly interested in developing novel CRISPRtechnique-based therapeutic strategies. We seek to translate the mechanistic findings at molecular level to therapeutic target development to advance treatment options against neurodegenerative diseases.

We are looking for highly motivated postdoc fellows with solid PhD training in biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology. Experiences with RNA biology, neuroscience or bioinformatics are preferred but not limited to. You will join a highly interactive science community at Johns Hopkins, with access to cutting-edge resources and exposure to world-class research.