Postdoc Fellow

A postdoctoral fellow position is available in Haiming Cao’s laboratory in the Cardiovascular Branch of NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. The Cao group studies the molecular and pathophysiological mechanisms of human diseases particularly diabetes, cardiovascular disorders and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with the goal of finding effective RNA drugs. The ongoing projects in the lab focus on developing interdisciplinary pipelines to identify effective RNA drugs against human diseases: 1) establish de novo annotation of human transcriptome by combining Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS), ATAC-seq and short-read RNA-seq; 2) perform deep mining of human genetic, particularly GWAS, data to identify disease-associated long non-coding RNAs; 3) utilize artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) approaches to prioritize the therapeutic potential of human lncRNAs (supported by NHLBI Bioinformatics Core and Office of AI Research, although all fellows are encouraged to learn and develop their own skills in these areas); 4) evaluate the efficiency of potential RNA drugs in convectional mice and humanized mice that carry a human-mouse chimeric liver. The current projects are based on some of our previous works (Cell Metabolism, 2015, 21(3):455-67; Cell Metabolism, 2016, 24(4):627-639; Nature Communications, 2020, 11(1):45; J Clin Invest. 2021, 131(1):e136336; Journal of Hepatology, 2023, S0168-8278(23)05296-0).

 

The Cao lab is supported by mouse transgenic, human iPS, high-throughput sequencing, proteomics, advanced microscopy, animal surgery, bioinformatics and artificial intelligence core facilities. The lab also has direct access to Biowulf, the largest high-performance computing systems for biomedical research in the world that features a 105,000+ processor cluster. With an interdisciplinary research environment and strong emphasis on novel informatics technology in life science, this position provides a unique opportunity for recent PhD awardees to deepen and broaden their research profile for advancing to an independent academic career.

 

QUALIFICATIONS: Interested candidates must be completing or should have obtained a Ph.D. or M.D. degree within the past five years in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Physiology, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology or a related discipline. Experience in mouse models of metabolic disorders, RNA biology, bioinformatics and computational biology are highly desirable but not required. In general, quality of past research is more important than experience in a specific field.

 

SALARY/BENEFITS: These positions are fully supported by NIH intramural funds and successful candidates will be offered competitive stipend/health insurance commensurate with experience and accomplishments.

 

Applicants should send curriculum vitae and 3 letters of reference via email to:

 

Haiming Cao, PhD

Senior Investigator

NHLBI, National Institutes of Health

10 Center Dr, Building 10, 8N109

Bethesda, MD 20892

Phone: 301-402-9032

Fax:   301-480-0360

Email: haiming.cao@nih.gov

 

Applications from women, minorities and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged. HHS and NIH are Equal Opportunity Employers.