Postdoctoral Scholar

About the role

The position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Mehboob Hussain at the University of California, Irvine. The successful candidate will explore regulation of metabolism in multiple tissues using in vivo mouse models and human (stem) cell systems.

Responsibilities

• Explore regulation of metabolism in multiple tissues using in vivo mouse models and human (stem) cell systems
• Utilize bioinformatic tools to identify and experimentally test novel inter-tissue signaling pathways that regulate metabolic homeostasis and/or cause disease
• Work with a colony of genetically modified mouse models (including genotyping)
• Isolate and culture metabolic relevant tissues (such as isolated islets, isolated liver cells, adipose tissue)
• Perform small rodent surgeries (e.g., miniosmotic pump implantation into mice)
• Develop and apply next generation molecular biological tools such as next generation sequencing, Chip-Seq, Cut&Tag, and preparation of libraries for sequencing
• Analyze data sets using advanced computational methods and machine learning models
• Support laboratory operations, including managing laboratory activities, new protocol development, mouse protocol applications, supervision of students, and assisting in mentoring trainees
• Pursue an independent project within the scope of the laboratory's interest while supporting all laboratory operations

Requirements

• PhD at the time of application or working towards the PhD or MD/PhD degree with a focus on Metabolism, Mouse Models systems, Human stem cell systems, Biochemical and Molecular Tools, Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, or a related field
• Extensive experience in a research environment and at least 1 first-author publication in a reputable scientific journal
• A record of academic accomplishments, including contributions to published or in-press research in the field
• Proficiency in working with cell culture systems, and general laboratory biochemical and molecular biological techniques (ELISA, Immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, immunoblotting, RNA extractions, RT-qPCR)
• Familiarity with standard software (MS Office Suite, Adobe Suite, Statistical and Graph Software packages i.e. Graphpad Prism)
• Ability to work independently to drive projects forward
• Effective communication skills and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team
• Experience in in vivo metabolic characterization of mouse models
• Experience in isolation and culture of metabolic relevant tissues (isolated islets, isolated liver cells, adipose tissue), small rodent surgeries (miniosmotic pump implantation into mice)
• Experience in stem cell differentiation protocols into metabolic relevant cell types
• Experience with next generation molecular biological tools (next generation sequencing, Chip-Seq, Cut&Tag, preparation of libraries for sequencing and downstream bioinformatic analysis of data sets)
• Experience with sectioning, fixing, and staining tissues for histology imaging, laser capture microdissection, and sample prep for (single-cell) sequencing
• Expertise with ATAC-Seq, methylation profiling, genome/exome/targeted sequencing, mutation calling, single-cell analysis, RNA-Seq, proteomics, spatial technologies from 10X, NanoString or similar, cryoET or cryoEM analysis
• Experience in biocomputational methods and willingness to engage in developing expertise in this area
• Experience in at least 1 programming language and machine learning models
• Basic biology, next-generation sequencing data, and statistical modeling of high-dimensional datasets
• Experience in basic computational methods (R, Python, and/or other programming languages)
• Experience in developing computational analysis pipelines
• Experience with building highly distributable software (R packages, Python modules, Linux-based command-line tools, C programs, MATLAB applications, GitHub)

Qualifications

• PhD at the time of application or working towards the PhD or MD/PhD degree with a focus on Metabolism, Mouse Models systems, Human stem cell systems, Biochemical and Molecular Tools, Epigenetics, Genetics, Genomics, Biology, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, or a related field
• Extensive experience in a research environment and at least 1 first-author publication in a reputable scientific journal
• A record of academic accomplishments, including contributions to published or in-press research in the field