Job ID: 85278

Post-doc, neuroepigenetics

Position: Post-doctoral Position

Deadline: 1 September 2022

Contract Length: >6 months

City: Umeå

Country: Sweden

Institution: Umeå University

Department: Department of Molecular Biology

Description:

The role of gene silencing for maintenance of differentiated dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal identity and function in healthy aging and disease

How long-term maintenance of differentiated neuronal identity is coupled to permanent silencing of alternative lineages is largely unknown. This project addresses the functional importance of polycomb mediated gene silencing for maintenance of murine and human dopaminergic and serotonergic neuronal identity and function.

The post-doc will perform experiments with animals, cells and in vitro to address the role of long-term transcriptional repression for maintaining cellular identity and function in differentiated dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons of the CNS. Work tasks will include but not be limited to designing, performing and analyzing experiments in collaboration with the supervisor. The applicant is expected to exhibit a high level of autonomy and be able to independently and responsibly address the scientific questions of the project.

See:

Toskas, K., Yaghmaeian-Salmani, B., J., Skiteva, O., Paslawski, W., Gilberg, L., Skara, V., Antoniou, I., Södersten, E., Svenningsson, P., Chergui, K., Ringnér, M., Perlmann, T, and Holmberg, J. (2022). PRC2-mediated repression is essential to maintain identity and function of differentiated dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons bioRxiv 2022
https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.01.24.477226

Södersten, E., Toskas, K., Rraklli, V., Tiklova, K., Björklund, Å., Ringnér, M., Perlmann, T. and Holmberg, J. (2018). A comprehensive map coupling histone modifications with gene regulation in adult dopaminergic and serotonergic neurons. Nat Commun. 2018 Mar 26;9(1):1226 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-03538-9

Holmberg, J. and Perlmann, T. (2012). Maintaining differentiated cell identities. Nature Review Genetics, 13(6), 429-439. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrg3209

Eligibility

A person who has been awarded a doctorate or a foreign qualification deemed to be the equivalent of a doctorate in life sciences (e.g., biology, biochemistry, medicine or biomedicine) is eligible for appointment as postdoctoral researcher. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time at which the appointment decision is made.

Previous experience involving animal experiments, cells, standard molecular biology methods, fluorescent activated sorting of nuclei, cDNA library preparation, chromatin extraction, single cell RNA-sequencing analysis, confocal microscopy, imaging and bioinformatical analysis is required.

A documented valid course in animal experimental procedures is required.

The high complexity of the project demands that the applicant has the proper problem-solving skills. You should be highly motivated and able to work productively in a team as well as independently. Excellent communication skills are required. Proficiency in written and spoken English also required. Great emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

Documented experience of bioinformatical analysis, transgenic mice, stereotactic injections, viral vectors and animal behavioural experiments is considered a great advantage.

To apply: https://umu.varbi.com/en/what:job/jobID:526791/

or e-mail to: johan.holmberg02@umu.se