The Zhao lab is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral associate to study the role of RNA modification in stem cells and cancer development.  In analogous to DNA modification, post-transcriptional modification is also identified on RNA.  Recently, messenger RNA modification, particularly methylation at the N6 position of adenosine or m6A, has emerged as an exciting research area in epigenetics and RNA biology. The Zhao lab identified a protein complex that governs m6A formation. Using loss-of-function studies, they discovered that m6A mRNA modification is essential for the proliferation and self-renewal of embryonic and neural stem cells. Mechanistically, they reported that m6A regulates gene expression via shortening of the half-line of mRNAs or interacting with histone modifiers.  Please refer to their publications for further information (Nature Cell Biology 16 (2): 191-8, Feb. 2014; Nature Neuroscience 21 (2): 195-206, Feb. 2018). Currently, we are digging deeper into the biological function and molecular mechanism of m6A in stem cells and cancer cells, using a combination of biochemistry, cell biology, and high throughout sequencing technologies.

Required Experience

Education and/or Experience:

A highly motivated Ph.D graduate with background in RNA biology, cancer biology, and/or molecular biology is encouraged to apply.