Postdoctoral Position in the labs of Audrey Gasch and Anita Bhattacharyya
Postdoctoral position: Cellular mechanisms of premature aging in Trisomy 21
Summary: Down syndrome (DS), caused by trisomy of chromosome 21 (T21), causes myriad phenotypes including premature systemic aging and shortened lifespan, for reasons that are a mystery.
The Gasch and Bhattacharyya labs at UW-Madison seek an ambitious postdoctoral fellow for a funded project to test an exciting new hypothesis: that premature aging in DS is caused by defects in translational fidelity and Ribosome Quality Control caused by T21. Our model is based on discoveries from the Gasch lab in which chromosome amplification in yeast – regardless of which chromosome is amplified – induces RQC defects that directly cause protein aggregation, aberrant ubiquitin distributions, defects entering and maintaining quiescence, and shortened lifespan. Aging signatures can be partly corrected by over-expressing limiting RQC subunits. The same aging signatures are seen in human T21 cells, suggesting that RQC defects may contribute to DS aging.
This project will combine human stem cell approaches, cellular and molecular biology, and genomics to test this hypothesis while characterizing aging signatures in T21. We leverage an exceptional model developed by the Bhattacharyya lab that includes isogenic pairs of T21-euploid iPSC lines derived from people mosaic for DS. This unique system enables the dissection of T21 consequences, independent of personal genetic variation that obscures signals in most other studies. The project focuses on neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and neurons, cell types that are of particular relevance to DS premature aging.
This is an excellent opportunity for training in leaders in the fields of stem-cell biology and cellular stress and aging, in a vibrant collaborative environment housed in a city frequently voted among the best cities in the country.
Successful candidates will have:
- Recently awarded or soon to be awarded Ph.D. in genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, or similar field.
- Demonstrated productivity through first author publications or preprints
- Be highly motivated, independent, and driven.
- Be interested in working within two highly collaborative labs that bridge expertise in human stem cell biology, aging and stress physiology, genomics and comparative biology.
UW-Madison is a vibrant community with a strong culture of interdisciplinary collaboration and communication. There are many opportunities for research and professional development. Madison is an exceptional place to live and is frequently voted one of the best cities in the country.
Highly motivated recent or impending graduates with a track record of successful research can apply by sending cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to Anita Bhattacharyya (bhattacharyy@waisman.wisc.edu) and Audrey Gasch (agasch@wisc.edu).