Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral fellow position (fully funded) available in the laboratory of Prof. Anders Naar at the University of California, Berkeley. The Naar lab recently relocated from Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cancer Research to UC Berkeley, Dept. of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology. We investigate gene regulatory mechanisms involving complex circuits of transcription factors and non-coding RNAs (e.g. microRNAs). These efforts are providing detailed molecular insights that are guiding the identification of new therapeutic strategies for many types of cancers, cardio-metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases/NASH, coronary artery disease, as well as fungal diseases plaguing immunocompromised individuals (e.g., Yang et al. Nature 2006, Thakur et al. Nature 2008, Najafi-Shoushtari et al. Science 2010, Walker et al. Cell 2011, Rottiers et al. Science Transl Med 2013, Wagschal et al. Nature Med 2015, Nishikawa et al. Nature 2016, Hancock et al. Cell 2019, Wang et al., under revision for Cell, Nishikawa et al., in preparation for Nature). 

The fellows will drive projects aimed at identifying novel regulatory functions of genes and microRNAs, and uncover alterations in metabolic pathways using mouse metabolic disease models and in cancer cells and in vivo models of tumorigenesis and metastasis, which may lead to discovery of new biological paradigm with high translational potential. This research incorporates a wide range of approaches using cutting-edge technologies such as RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, CRISPR-Cas9 genomic editing and both cell and mouse models. In addition, the fellows will interface with collaborators who are experts in diverse fields such as structural biology, animal metabolism and physiology from zebrafish to rodent models and non-human primates, as well as metabolomics, chemical biology and pharmacogenomics.

Qualified candidates should have strong experimental expertise in molecular and cell biology, as well as mouse studies. S/he should also possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, demonstrate the ability to think critically and innovatively, have a strong publication record and show leadership capacity. Prior research experience in animal metabolism or chemical biology is also preferred. We are looking for dynamic and self-motivated individuals who are able to take on fast-paced, multidisciplinary projects. To apply, please send (1) cover letter highlighting past research experience, research interests and career goals, (2) CV and (3) the contact info of three references via email to naar@berkeley.edu.

Lab website: https://nst.berkeley.edu/users/anders-m-näär