Company: Confidential
Job Title: Postdoc positions in Membrane Protein Biogenesis and Nanobody Engineering
Job Number: 91521
Location: Stanford, US
Job Description
[Please click the Apply button for the link or email] at Stanford University is looking for postdoctoral fellows for two separate projects broadly centered on the molecular mechanisms of protein homeostasis and its manipulation for therapeutic benefit:
1) Dissecting the mechanism of ion channel biogenesis and quality control at the human endoplasmic reticulum using a combination of cutting-edge functional genomics, cell biology, structural biochemistry and protein engineering techniques. Neuronal and cardiac ion channels are key mediators of action potentials and so enable heart muscle contraction and neuronal signal propagation. Mutations that reduce ion channel levels at the cell surface or impair their function lead to severe neurological and cardiological diseases that collectively affect millions of people worldwide. We are interested in how cells manufacture various ion channels in the right quality and in the right relative amounts to achieve proper electrical activity of cell membranes. We will explore the molecular machinery and mechanisms that regulate ion channel insertion, assembly and quality control at the human endoplasmic reticulum using a combination of cell biology, genetics and structural biology.
2) Developing high-throughput screens for alpaca-derived single-domain antibodies, called nanobodies, as tools to study and reverse failure of protein homeostasis under disease conditions. We will generate nanobodies that activate intracellular protein folding and degradation capacity to cope with misfolded and aggregated proteins and characterize them in model systems of neurodegenerative diseases. Our goal is to develop nanobodies into mRNA-deliverable effectors of protein homeostasis.
Our lab is an inclusive space that fosters learning & curiosity, promotes team work and values mentorship to drive an innovative research program that pushes the boundaries of molecular biology.
The successful candidate will have access to close mentorship, fantastic resources and will be surrounded by a world-class collaborative scientific environment. Outside of the lab, life in the sunny Bay area offers spectacular culinary, cultural, and outdoor recreational opportunities.
The expected base pay range for this position is $73,800.
Relevant publications:
Stevens, T.A., Tomaleri, G.P., Hazu, M., Wei, S., Nguyen, V.N., DeKalb, C., Voorhees, R.M.† and Pleiner, T.† (2024) A nanobody-based strategy for rapid and scalable purification of native human protein complexes. Nature Protocols 19, 127–158.
Pleiner, T.*, Hazu, M.*, Tomaleri, G.P.*, Nguyen, V.N., Januszyk, K. and Voorhees, R.M. (2023) A selectivity filter in the EMC limits protein mislocalization to the ER. J Cell Biol, 222, e202212007.
Pleiner, T., Hazu, M., Tomaleri, G.P., Januszyk, K., Oania, R.S., Sweredoski, M.J., Moradian, A., Guna, A. and Voorhees, R.M. (2021) WNK1 is an assembly factor for the human ER membrane protein complex. Mol Cell, 81, 2693-2704.e12.
Pleiner, T.*, Tomaleri, G.P.*, Januszyk, K.*, Inglis, A.J., Hazu, M. and Voorhees, R.M. (2020) Structural basis for membrane insertion by the human ER membrane protein complex. Science, 369, 433-436.
Pleiner, T.†, Bates, M.† and Görlich, D.† (2018) A toolbox of anti-mouse and anti-rabbit IgG secondary nanobodies. J Cell Biol, 217, 1143-1154.
Qualifications
Applications are encouraged from talented and motivated individuals who have a Ph.D. or are nearing completion of their Ph.D. with experience in cell biology, biochemistry or protein engineering. Top candidates will have a strong track record of research productivity, excellent communication skills, enthusiasm for basic research and a willingness to work as a leading part of a team with other lab members. Candidates should send a cover letter, a detailed curriculum vitae, including a list of publications with brief (2-3 sentence) descriptions of your contributions to your published work, as well as the names and contact details for three references to [Please click the Apply button for the link or email]
The start date is flexible and depends on the candidate.
Application Deadline: 2025-03-31
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