Post Doctoral.Post Doctoral.Associate

A highly motivated full-time postdoctoral associate is sought in Dr. Yuanyuan Chen’s laboratory at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh. The Chen Lab uses pharmacological and molecular biological methods to study retinal degenerative diseases and to find new treatments. Specifically, the Chen Lab is looking for small molecules that upregulate protein homeostasis and those that mitigate retina immune responses. In particular, we use small molecule high-throughput screening, retina ex vivo culture, and in vivo mouse retinal morphology and physiology techniques to identify novel small molecules that repair defective homeostasis observed in cells with mutated rhodopsin. Further, the Chen lab is developing a new drug screening platform using retinal explants to find drugs that prevent retinal degeneration. We aim to discover the most effective and potent compounds, characterize their metabolism and effects in mouse models of eye diseases, and develop an efficacious and safe treatment regimen that can be further tested in large animals and clinical trials. The Chen lab publishes well in high impact journals including Nat Comm, JCI Insight, and Comm Biol et al. Dr. Chen’s lab is supported by NIH R01, Hillman Challenge Research Award, and the FFB TRAP Award. The translational research nature of this lab makes it an ideal place for candidates seeking a pharmaceutical career path. More information about the Chen Lab is here: https://ivy00chen.wixsite.com/chenlab

• Duties or Responsibilities

o The research to be performed is the pharmacological studies of retinal degenerative disease. The candidate will participate in two projects as the driving force: 1) the mechanism of actions of methotrexate in rescuing the function of retina with retinitis pigmentosa; 2) the pharmacological studies of nuclear speckle rejuvenation in retinitis pigmentosa. Additionally, the candidate is expected to participate in collaborative projects and their contributions will be recognized as a co-author. The research projects will utilize cell culture, retina explant culture and rodent models to investigate the efficacy, safety, mechanism of actions, and pharmacokinetics of drug candiates for treating retinal degeneration. The lab also investigates the disease mechanisms along the way of drug discovery and development.

o The postdoc candidate will perform research activities in a team with other lab members and collaborative teams. They will present their research at national/international conferences. They are expected to conduct research projects as a leading force, and draft their first-authored research manuscripts under supervision of the PI. They are encouraged to write applications for postdoctoral fellowships and career development grants.

o The postdoc candidate will develop leadership skills by helping the PI with lab management, training young scientists in the lab, editing IBC and IACUC protocols, maintaining and breeding animals, and ordering research materials.

o The postdoc candidate is expected to deliver at least one project to the extent equivalent or more than one first-authored research article, accepted in a solid journal such as FASEB J or higher, before leaving the lab.

• Expectations or Qualifications

Ph.D in pharmacology, biochemistry or pharmacy, or MD with Ophthalmology training. Have a minimum 1 year of experience in rodent retinal techniques including OCT, ERG, and retinal histology, and hold expertise in routine tissue culture, Western blots, and qPCR skills.

Alternatively, expertise in pharmacology skill sets, including treatment to rodents, pharmacokinetics using HPLC, efficacy and mechanism of action studies.

At least one first-author research article accepted by a mainstream journal.

• Opportunities Available

• The Department of Ophthalmology provides Biology in Vision and three other Vision and Hearing graduate certificate courses for the candidate to attend based on needs. The Chen lab supports trainees to attend national/international meetings when the candidate has sufficient data to present. The Chen lab also supports and has a successful record for trainees’ fellowship and travel awards. Dr. Chen strongly supports postdoctoral fellows’ career development towards academic independence or pharmaceutical jobs.

The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.