Postdoctoral Positions - University of Massachusetts Medical School

Created by Jonathan Knight
Sept 17, 2015
2 min read

Postdoctoral positions - Application of gene editing to model vascular development and disease in the zebrafish

Postdoctoral positions are available in the Lawson Lab (http://lawsonlab.umassmed.edu) at the University of Massachusetts Medical School to study vascular development using the zebrafish as a model system.  The Lawson Lab is located in the newly formed Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology where postdocs benefit from a modern open lab space with highly interactive colleagues, extensive bioinformatics support, an experienced full-time aquatics staff, and access to cutting-edge imaging and gene editing technology.  The Lawson Lab makes extensive use of genome editing technologies (e.g. TALENs and CRISPR) in the zebrafish to knock out genes implicated in normal and pathological angiogenesis.  These knockout models provide platforms for investigating mechanisms important for developmental angiogenesis, as well as pathogenesis of congenital vascular disease.

Current projects include, but are not limited to: 1. Development and application of knockout zebrafish bearing mutations in genes that cause human congenital vascular or lymphatic disease for small molecule screening to identity therapeutically relevant lead compounds.  2. Reverse genetic screening through application of CRISPR to identify genes important for vascular, lymphatic and periendothelial development.  3. Application of genome- and transcriptome-wide approaches (RNA-Seq, ATAC-Seq, ChIP-Seq) and CRISPR to functionally define endothelial and periendothelial lineage-specific developmental programs. 

For examples of our recent work, see any of the following:

Nature (2007) 445:781-784.
Nature Biotechnology (2008) 26:695-701.
Genes and Development (2009) 23:2272-7.
Nature (2010) 464:1196-200. 
Dev. Biol (2010) 357:450-462.
Development (2011) 138:4555-4564.
Developmental Cell (2012) 22:418-429.
Development (2014) 141:1544-1552.
Developmental Cell (2015) 32:97-108

Applicants must be highly motivated and technically accomplished as documented by exceptional publication record and hold a PhD in a related area of study.  Ideal candidates will have demonstrated experience in standard and advanced molecular biology approaches, as well as experience with model organisms (e.g. fly, mouse, worm, zebrafish).

Please send or email CV and reprints of relevant publications to the contact information below.  Applicants accepted for initial consideration will be subsequently contacted for letters of reference.

Nathan D. Lawson, PhD
Professor
Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology
University of Massachusetts Medical School
Lazare Research Building, Room 617
364 Plantation Street
Worcester, MA 01605
e-mail: nathan.lawson@umassmed.edu
web site: http://lawsonlab.umassmed.edu