Post Doctoral Researcher
- Employer
- University of Pennsylvania
- Location
- Philadelphia
View more
- Administrative Jobs
- Academic Affairs, Research Staff & Technicians, Institutional & Business Affairs, Auxiliary Services
- Position Type
- Postdoc
- Employment Type
- Full Time
- Institution Type
- Four-Year Institution
Job Details
Post Doctoral Researcher
The Modzelewski Lab (TheModzLab) at the University of Pennsylvania Department of Biomedical Sciences School of Veterinary Medicine is recruiting 2 postdoctoral researchers or research associates to join an exciting new NIH-NICHD funded project. Our work focuses on the exciting and emerging role of retrotransposons in early development and disease. We investigate the impact retrotransposons have on fertility and preimplantation development in mice along with comparative biology studies using various placental mammalian species to learn about human health and reproduction.
The lab has two major but linked focuses: Developmental Biology and Genome Editing.
Nearly half of all mammalian genomes originate from ancient retroviral integrations. While silenced in nearly all cells, retrotransposon reactivation is a well-known phenomenon in preimplantation embryos and the germline. Reactivation is also observed during epigenetic breakdown that occurs in aging, disease and cancer. Some retrotransposons retain regulatory and structural features that can influence nearby genes. In the embryo, these events are transient and span less than a cell cycle. We found many examples of enhancers, repressors and chromatin boundaries. A subset of these events splice with nearby protein coding genes, generating conserved embryo-specific splicing isoforms called "chimeric transcripts" that form hundreds of novel promoters, exons and polyadenylation sites. Deletions made in the lab have led to defects in cellular homeostasis, infertility, embryonic and maternal lethality and improper implantation that resembles human pregnancy complications. Recently published work discovered the first essential retrotransposon in mammals (Cell 2021). Importantly, retrotransposons are also observed to reactivate in cases of epigenetic breakdown, such as aging, disease and aggressive cancers. This highly collaborative project adapts proteomics, genetics, bioinformatics and CRISPR/Cas9 editing to reveal this overlooked but essential form of retrotransposons-based regulation in development, fertility, and disease.
To aid in these investigations, we are also interested in technology development. As no current cell culture system faithfully represents preimplantation development, most of the research at this stage must be done directly in the embryo and animal models. Even with the advent of CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, generating mouse models is cost prohibitive and largely inaccessible. Therefore, I developed a highly efficient electroporation-based editing technique called CRISPR-EZ (CRISPR Electroporation of Zygotes) that is 3-4x more efficient than the gold standard of microinjection, inexpensive, works in all species tested, and can be mastered quickly, making this technology uniquely accessible to many academic labs (JBC 2016, Nature Protocols 2018, JOVE 2022). While small insertions and deletion strategies have been highly optimized, there is still room to improve in larger insertions, deletion, and sophisticated model designs. Current efforts include the use of AAV, CRISPRa/i (activation/interference), humanized models to study conserved developmental regulatory networks.
Qualifications:
• PhD degree in biology, genetics, genomics, biomedical sciences as well as bioengineering,
biostatistics, computational, etc.
• We encourage applicants with experience in developmental biology and/or non-coding RNA
• Previous mouse handling experience and embryo manipulation is a plus but not essential.
• Ideal candidate should enjoy working with others, be highly motivated and passionate about biology,
development, reproduction and apply this knowledge to human health and disease.
Application Documents:
• CV or Resume (with contact information for 2-3 references)
• Cover Letter detailing interest and experience
For more information, please visit our website: www.TheModzLab.org
Interested applicants are invited to submit their application documents directly to Dr. Modzelewski at https://tinyurl.com/6my96vry
Copyright ©2022 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.
Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency
jeid-50276c4ec4db2e4e9e3211b218a8777d
Organization
Welcome to the University of Pennsylvania! Penn is the largest private employer in Philadelphia and is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation.
Across our 12 highly-regarded schools, more than 25,000 students, and more than 4,000 faculty members, we become one university: a wide-ranging, ever-changing community that draws its strength from a multitude of races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, historical traditions, ages, religions, disabilities, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Penn carries on the principles and spirit of its founder, Benjamin Franklin: entrepreneurship, innovation, invention, outreach, and a pragmatic love of knowledge. Franklin's practical outlook has remained a driving force in the university's development. To learn more, visit About Penn.
Vision
As engines of knowledge and new ideas, universities have the unique potential to define the future rather than be defined by it; to pioneer change rather than merely manage it. To do so requires a plan both visionary and pragmatic. The Penn Compact 2022 motivates community members to innovate, be radically inclusive, and positively impact their local, national, and global communities.
Penn’s fundamental priorities — increasing access, integrating knowledge and engaging locally, nationally and globally — are supported by the three core values that make us uniquely Penn: inclusion, innovation, and impact.
Learn about the signature initiatives of the Penn Compact 2022:
- Global Connections President’s Engagement Prizes President's Innovation Prize Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professors
Diversity
Understanding and appreciating diversity is one of Penn's most important priorities and is fundamental to success in today's world.
Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.
To learn more about Diversity and Inclusion at Penn visit:
- Diversity at Penn Resources Supporting Diversity Penn Diversity Facts and Figures Penn's Diversity Timeline 1740-1997
Benefits
Penn offers a wide range of benefits and perks - from Penn's retirement Matching Plan to bike repair stations to access to the full LinkedIn Learning library to adoption assistance to workshops at the letterpress and book arts studio and much more!
- Penn HR Benefits Be in the Know Wellness Campaign Penn Home Ownership Services Campus Shuttles & Buses Resources for Cyclists Deals@Penn Common Press
Campus and Beyond
We invite you to explore our campus and its stately buildings and state-of-the-art facilities.
- Penn Park Morris Arboretum Penn Campus Arboretum: 6,800 Campus Trees Penn Recreation Penn Libraries Shop Penn
Try our self-guided tour! Come and visit!
Learn about sustainability at Penn.
News
Stay up-to-date with Penn's response to COVID-19: Coronavirus Information & Resources.
Penn supports news publications that tell the ongoing story of the University community, communications services for external media, telephone and video services, and other media resources: Campus Media
Connect with us!
- Telephone
- (215) 898-7372
- Location
-
3451 Walnut Street
Philadelphia
PA
19104
US
Get job alerts
Create a job alert and receive personalized job recommendations straight to your inbox.
Create alert