Scholarship: Full award
Degree: Ph.D
Nationality: International Students
Location: USA
Application deadlines: Open until filled
Scholarship Description:
The Zhu lab studies the regulation and function of the dynamic proteostasis pathways, with a focus on the intriguing 12h ultradian rhythm of proteostasis[Zhu et al., Cell Metabolism, 2017; Pan et al., PLoS Biology, 2020;Meng et al., Nature Communications, 2020]. More recently, Zhu and colleagues uncovered that nuclear speckle liquid-liquid phase separation dynamics drives XBP1s-mediated proteostasistranscriptional program to maintain metabolic homeostasis, and protects against liver aging and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases(Dion et al., Science Advances, 2022). For his exceptional creativity, Dr. Zhu was awarded the highly competitive and prestigious NIH Director’s New Innovator Award(https://ai.dom.pitt.edu/dr-bokai-zhu-receives-nih-directors-new-innovator-award/). The Zhu lab is currently investigating the transcriptional/epigenetic regulation as well as the physiological/pathological functions of the rhythmic proteostasiscontrol, with an emphasis on its roles in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and preventing aging-associated diseases(including NAFLD and neurodegenerative diseases). Acombination of state-of-the-art computational, biochemical, genetic, cellular, imaging and genomic approaches is currently utilized in the lab. For a detailed description of the research performed in Zhu lab, please visit http://www.bzhulab.com.
The search is primarily targeted towards scientists who recentlyfinished their PhD. Start date is immediate and flexible. Candidates should ideally have received a doctoral degree no more than 4years before the start date. Researchers with a passion in systemic and quantitative chronobiology, cell biology, metabolism and endocrinology, neurodegenerative diseases, molecular biology, gene regulation and epigenetics are welcome to apply.
Available Subjects:
Studying nuclear condensates in transcriptional regulation of proteostasis, metabolism and aging
Eligibility criteria:
Expertise in any of the following areas is highly valued:
- • In vivo mouse circadian and hepatic metabolism techniques, including IP and tail vein injection techniques, CLAMS system to study energy expenditure, and various metabolic phenotyping.
- • Experiences in using iPSC to study cellular basis of neurodegenerative diseases, experiences with mouse models of Tau and/or Aβ neuropathology.
- • Molecular biology, biochemistry and experiences in the field of transcriptional regulation of gene expression, functional genomics, chromatin biology, epigenetics, with expertise in performing ChIP/CUT&RUN assay, generating and analyzing next-generation sequencing dataset, etc.
- • Cell biology with expertise in quantitative imaging such as fluorescence time-lapse microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and image analysis.
Application Procedure:
To apply, please send a detailed CV and contact information of three referees to Dr. Bokai Zhu at BZHU@pitt.edu.