A postdoc position to study polarity genes in neural development

A postdoc position to study polarity genes in neural development

At the University of Pittsburgh, our lab is looking for a self-motivated postdoc to study the expression regulation and functions of epithelial polarity genes in zebrafish neural development. Specifically, we are interested in identifying what transcription factors, cis-regulatory elements (CREs), and chromosome architectural and epigenetic properties regulate cell-type-specific expression of epithelial polarity genes during neural development. In addition, we are also interested in understanding how polarity genes regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesions for proper cellular patterning during tissue morphogenesis. Our research uses a variety of technologies, such as recombinant DNA technologies, bioinformatic prediction of CREs, RNA and DNA FISH, immunohistochemistry, confocal microscopy, transgenic animals, etc. For examples of our research interests, please refer to the following publications:

1.     Zou, J., Wang, X., and Wei, X. (2012) Crb Apical Polarity Proteins Maintain Zebrafish Retinal Cone Mosaics via Intercellular Binding of Their Extracellular Domains. Developmental Cell. 22(6):1261-1274.

2.     Guo, C., Zou, J., Wen, Y., Fang, W., Stolz, D.B., Sun, M., Wei, X. (2018) Apical Cell-Cell Adhesions Reconcile Symmetry and Asymmetry in Zebrafish Neurulation. iScience. 3:63-85.

3.     Fang, W., Guo, C., Wei, X. (2017) Rainbow Enhancers Regulate Restrictive Transcription in Teleost Green, Red, and Blue Cones. The Journal of Neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 37(11):2834-2848.

4.     Yang, X., Zou, J., Hyde, D.R., Davidson, L.A., and Wei, X. (2009) Stepwise maturation of apicobasal polarity of the neuroepithelium is essential for vertebrate neurulation. The Journal of Neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 29(37):11426-11440.

5.     Zou, J., Lathrop, K.L., Sun, M., and Wei, X. (2008) Intact retinal pigment epithelium maintained by Nok is essential for retinal epithelial polarity and cellular patterning in zebrafish. The Journal of Neuroscience: the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 28(50):13684-13695.

6.     Wei, X. and Malicki, J. (2002) nagie oko, encoding a MAGUK-family protein, is essential for cellular patterning of the retina. Nature Genetics. 31(2):150-157.

7.     Wei, X., Samarabandu, J., Devdhar, R.S., Siegel, A., Acharya, R., Berezney, R. (1998) Segregation of transcription and replication sites into higher-order domains. Science. 281:1502-1505.

Candidates should have a PhD in developmental biology, genetics, molecular biology, or cell biology. Applicants shall send a cover letter, a CV, a list of references, and a description of research interests to Dr. Xiangyun Wei at weix@upmc.edu (Xiangyun Wei, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, United States).