Description

Our laboratory is seeking a full-time postdoctoral research fellow who is motivated, enthusiastic, and enjoys collaborative and independent science. The laboratory focuses on translational eye research involving age-related macular degeneration (AMD), AAV gene therapy, CRISPR gene editing, and ophthalmic imaging, including unique opportunities for highly translational nonhuman primate research. You will be involved in state-of-the-art technologies that will be important in large animal models and regenerative medicine research. Our laboratory pioneered rhesus macaques as nonhuman primate models of AMD, the first use of CRISPR-based genome editing to treat neovascular AMD, and the use of suprachoroidal microneedles for AAV-mediated gene delivery.

Successful candidates will become part of a highly successful and collaborative interdisciplinary team of junior and senior investigators, including clinician-scientists, retinal biologists, veterinary ophthalmologists, and imaging bioengineers at UC Davis. As a motivated, successful clinician-scientist faculty, I am strongly committed to mentoring the candidate for either academic or industry positions.

Responsibilities:

 Responsibilities of this position will include planning, execution, and presentation of experiments involving:

• Basic molecular biology, protein biochemistry, and cell culture techniques.
• Preparation of biological and chemical reagents.
• Bioinformatics with multi-omic data (e.g. scRNA-seq, metabolomics, proteomics, etc.).
• AAV gene therapy and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing (design & delivery).
• Rodent and nonhuman primate (NHP) studies including ocular injections, dissections, and histology.
• Ocular imaging technologies: OCT, SLO, adaptive optics .
• Collaborate with bioengineers in ocular imaging and optogenetics.
• Shared lab duties, such as ordering and maintaining lab supplies; maintaining compliance.

Requirements

Requirements:

• Highly motivated, organized, and responsible individual with excellent communication skills.
•  Doctoral degree in biological science (Ph.D. or MD/Ph.D.)
• Ability to work and troubleshoot independently.
•  Previous laboratory experience (1 to 3 years).
• Experience with retinal research and/or bioinformatics skills involving single-cell or spatial transcriptomics or other multiomic technologies are preferred but not required.

The qualified candidate will have earned a doctoral degree in cell biology, developmental biology, neurobiology, or a closely related field must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or current eligibility to work in the United States. This is a full-time appointment, with occasional weekend hours for the management of experiments. A 2-year minimum commitment is required.

More information about the principal investigator and lab can be found at: https://health.ucdavis.edu/eyecenter/yiulab/index.html. The laboratory is located in Tupper Hall in the UC Davis campus. Candidates should send a letter of interest, including a one-page cover letter* (see notes below) and a curriculum vitae, to Dr. Glenn Yiu at  [email protected]. Due to a potentially large number of applicants, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

*In the cover letter, please briefly describe your research experience, reason(s) for seeking this position, and future career goals. Please also include some unique skills that do not make it to your CV and some personal hobbies.