Post Doc Res Assoc

We are launching an ambitious program to systematically discover, map, and therapeutically harness mitochondrial microproteins to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in rare and common disease. Microproteins encoded by small open reading frames (smORFs) represent an enormous, largely uncharted space of short proteins that regulate core aspects of mitochondrial metabolism, import, and stress responses, and offer a new class of therapeutic targets.

About the role

Building on our leadership in microprotein discovery and function, we are recruiting multiple postdoctoral fellows to apply high-throughput methods and machine/deep learning to unlock the full potential of the dark proteome. Postdocs will drive one or more of the following research thrusts, with projects tailored to your background:

• Mapping the mitochondrial microproteome
• Systems-level functional mapping of mitochondrial microproteins (mito-MPs)
• Hypothesis-driven interrogation of mito-MP biology
• AI-guided design of therapeutic microproteins

Our long-term goals are to create a comprehensive, experimentally validated functional atlas of mitochondrial microproteins and reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in rare mitochondrial diseases as well as common metabolic disorders.

Responsibilities

Depending on your project and interests, you will have the opportunity to work with:

• High-throughput functional genomics: pooled CRISPR and base-editing screens, barcoded overexpression libraries, massively parallel reporter assays.
• Advanced cell and mitochondrial biology: primary human fibroblasts, mitochondrial bioenergetics, import assays, respiratory chain phenotyping, in vivo disease models.
• Multi-omics: single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, untargeted metabolomics, quantitative proteomics.
• Computational and AI approaches: microprotein bioinformatics, multi-omic integration, protein language models, generative sequence design, and model interpretability (e.g., SHAP, attention mapping).

The lab culture emphasizes team science, rigorous mechanistic work, and translation. You will join a collaborative network of basic and clinical partners aimed at moving microprotein discoveries toward therapeutic applications.

Requirements

• PhD or MD-PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Biomedical Data Science).
• Strong publication record for your career stage and evidence of driving projects to completion.
• Demonstrated critical and creative thinking, with the ability to formulate and test mechanistic hypotheses.
• Independence and strong organizational skills, coupled with enjoyment of close collaboration and mentoring in a team setting.

Prior experience in every technique listed is not required; we expect you to have depth in one area and motivation to expand your toolkit in others.

Skills

We strongly encourage applicants from all scientific and personal backgrounds. Ideal candidates will bring expertise in at least one of the following areas, and enthusiasm to learn across disciplines:

• Mitochondrial biochemistry, bioenergetics, or oxidative phosphorylation.
• Rare mitochondrial diseases or mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolic disease.
• Mitochondrial protein import, organelle proteostasis, or quality control.
• Functional genomics: CRISPR/Cas9 or base-editing screens, high-throughput reporter assays.
• Single-cell or spatial transcriptomics / proteomics / metabolomics in metabolic or mitochondrial contexts.
• Microprotein or peptide biology; therapeutic peptide, mRNA, or gene therapy development related to mitochondrial disease.
• Computational biology / bioinformatics, especially ribosome profiling, disease gene discovery, or integrative multi-omic analyses.
• Machine learning for biological data (e.g., protein language models, transformers, generative models) and interest in building interpretable tools for experimental colleagues.

Benefits

• A highly collaborative, supportive environment spanning wet-lab, computational, and translational efforts, embedded in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah.
• Clear lines of sight to high-impact publications and therapeutic development.
• Structured mentoring to help you define your scientific niche, build an independent research vision, and prepare competitive grant and faculty applications.
• Access to state-of-the-art core facilities and an extensive network of international collaborators in mitochondrial biology, microproteins, and therapeutic development.

Pay

$65,600 to $73,136 per year.

Requisition Number: PRN44612B. Full-time position located on campus.