Postdoctoral Position - Mitochondrial Signaling - Brand lab

Company: Buck Institute
Location: Novato
Posted on: June 8, 2021

Job Description:

PROJECT SUMMARY:

A postdoctoral position is available immediately in mitochondrial signaling in type 2 diabetes (T2D) at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California (San Francisco Bay Area).

This is a full time position with an initial one-year contract that can be extended.

The project uses pancreatic -cell physiology assaying and top-down analysis of bioenergetic parameters measured using fluorescence microscopy and Seahorse respirometry to uncover causes of beta cell failure in T2D. Therefore both strong wet-bench and data analysis skills are required.

PROJECT OVERVIEW:

Altered cellular energetics and related cellular signaling contribute to human disease in general and physiological aging and chronic diseases in particular, including cancer, neurodegeneration, ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes. Mitochondrial metabolism also plays a central role in insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. When glucose is elevated, the increased metabolism results in a substantial mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization, as well as in increased rates of ATP synthesis and turnover marked by faster cell respiration. The project uses microscale bioenergetic assaying of human primary -cell cultures, assessment of -cell physiology and top-down analysis of cellular energy metabolism. The project investigates the molecular pathways that make healthy - cell bioenergetics - and insulin secretion - normally highly responsive to glucose, and pathways that may fail in type 2 diabetes. Relevant papers from our lab to this project are: PMIDs 26204464, 27404273, 27771512.

The successful candidate will receive training in the particular experimental technologies used in this project, will design and conduct experiments and analyze data. The postdoc is expected to lead his/her own project, write up and present results.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS:

• PhD in biological or biomedical sciences, bioengineering or bioinformatics
• Solid knowledge of cell and mitochondrial metabolism
• Cell culturing experience
• Wet bench experience
• Proven publication record
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to prioritize and manage own time
• Ability to work independently and also capable of interacting successfully within a group.

DESIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Cell or mitochondrial respirometry
• Fluorescence microscopy
• Experience in -cell physiology or in diabetes
• Experience in metabolic modeling
• Experience in RNAi methods

BUCK INSTITUTE ENVIRONMENT:

The Buck Institute for Research on Aging consists of state-of-the-art research laboratories with faculty recruited from four different disciplines - diseases of aging, processes of aging, stem cell biology, and technology for aging studies. The labs were intentionally designed for close proximity interactions without departmental boundaries. Since its inception, the Buck Institute has collaborated closely with UCSF, UCB, LBNL and other San Francisco Bay Area researchers, clinicians and patient advocates at many levels. About 25% of Buck Institute faculty hold joint academic appointments with UCSF and/or UCB-LBNL.

The Institute sits on 488 acres of Mt. Burdell in Marin County, 20 miles north of San Francisco. Long-term plans call for 550 employees in 45 faculty-supervised laboratories within five buildings totaling 360,000 square feet; to date, the first three buildings hold 200 employees in 18 laboratories and five cores. The Institute is supported by funds from the Buck Trust (20%), Government grants (NIH, CIRM, DOE; 35%), contributions and grants from individuals, corporations and foundations (20%) and corporate/philanthropic-sponsored agreements (25%). The Buck Institute is a multi-disciplinary facility and houses research associated with neurology, molecular genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, neurochemistry, cancer biology, mass spectrometry, proteomics, and apoptosis. Additional research support within the Buck Institute campus includes a 238-seat auditorium. The Buck Institute has developed several specialized multi-user core equipment facilities including the Morphology and Imaging Core (co-directed by Dr Akos Gerencser), a Bioinformatics and Genomics Core equipped with high- throughput microarray robotics, plate readers, laser capture microscope and multi-species genome probe libraries, as well as one of the Bay Area's best equipped Chemical/Proteomics/Mass Spectrometry Core facilities.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Akos Gerencser MD. Ph.D.

Assistant Director of the Morphology and Imaging Core

Assistant Research Professor

T: (415) 209-2273

agerencser@buckinstitute.org

Keywords: Buck Institute, Novato , Postdoctoral Position - Mitochondrial Signaling - Brand lab, Other , Novato, California