Mid-Atlantic HERC

Job title:

Postdoctoral Position in Polycystic Kidney Disease Research- Qian Lab

Job description:

Applicants are sought for a two-year, potentially extendable, full-time postdoctoral position in the laboratory of Dr. Feng Qian investigating molecular mechanisms underlying polycystic kidney disease (PKD). PKD is the most common genetic cause of renal failure. It is caused by mutations in PKD1, PKD2 or PKHD1 genes, which encode polycystin-1, -2 or fibrocystin/polyductin, respectively. The laboratory is located in the new state-of-art Health Sciences Facility III Building on the campus. It is a part of the Baltimore PKD Research Center supported by the NIH R01 grants and U54 PKD Research Consortium (https://www.pkd-rrc.org/about-pkd-rrc/).

The postdoctoral researcher will join a group studying PKD with biochemical, biophysical, cell biological, systems biology methods and mouse models etc. The researcher will primarily be involved in a project investigating the role of polycystins complex as a distinct ion channel and in primary cilia in kidney physiology and disease. The project will also involve the functional regulation of polycystin-1 by the cleavage at the G-protein coupled receptor proteolysis site (GPS) motif, a key posttranslational modification of the protein, in cell signaling. The laboratory is highly collaborative with many opportunities to contribute to other, related ciliopathy projects.

Qualifications and experience:

Requirements include a Ph.D. (or equivalent) in cellular and molecular biology or related disciplines. Desirable skills include experience with mouse experimentation, histology, microscopy, cell culture, biochemistry, cell signaling, and molecular biology methods.