Postdoctoral Fellow - Neuroscience

The lab & job descriptions: A postdoctoral position in neuroscience is available at the Loma Linda University Center for Genomics in Dr. Wang's lab. Our research projects are focused on investigating the genomic/epigenomic mechanisms of abnormal brain development following prenatal e-cigarette or delta- 9-tetrahydrocannabinol exposure (https://medicine.llu.edu/research/laboratories-llu-school- medicine/charles-wang-lab). We aim to understand how brain development and neuron type specification is controlled epigenetically via methylation and chromatin modifications, and how dysregulation of these epigenetic events contributes to neurodevelopmental disorders.

The Center for Genomics at the Loma Linda University was a key testing site for the SEQC consortium international collaborations (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-020-00748-9). It is well-equipped with different NGS genomics tools and cutting-edge bioinformatics infrastructure for genomics and bioinformatics studies. Our lab uses many different types of next-gen sequencing technologies, including single-cell transcriptomics and single- cell ATAC-seq, spatial genomics, methylation, combining other approaches such as microelectrode array, FACS sorting, histology, behavior, and computation.

The position will primarily support a genomic and epigenomic NIH funded project, which focuses on investigating the genomic and epigenomic mechanisms underlying maternal e-cigarette induced abnormal brain development. The candidate will receive training in many aspects of bioinformatics and will perform research involving animal models and neuroscience skills including neurophysiological technique (microelectrode array), behavioral assays and genomics techniques such as single-cell sequencing and spatial genomics.

Required qualifications: A doctoral degree in Neuroscience or relevant fields is required. Having demonstrated knowledge and experience in cell culture or FACS sorting are a plus. The candidate must have excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively in a team. The successful candidate will benefit from an outstanding research environment in our center and opportunities for career development into an independent investigator in academia.

Salary and compensations: Competitive salary (>$70k/year) relevant to the experience with the full benefit package plus the great California weather!

Application: Please submit by e-mail a cover letter including three referees and curriculum vitae to Dr. Charles Wang at chwang@llu.edu.

Note: This is a post-doctoral fellowship position. Candidates must have completed their PhD prior to starting the position.

Recent representative publications from Dr. Wang's lab:

1). Chen Z, Chen W, et al. Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility and RNA sequencing reveal impaired brain development in prenatally e-cigarette exposed neonatal rats. iScience, 2022, Jun 30;25(8):104686. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104686. PMCID: PMC9304611

2). Chen W, et al. A multi-center study benchmarking single-cell RNA sequencing technologies using reference samples. Nature Biotechnol. 39, 1103-1114 (2021), doi:10.1038/s41587-020-00748-9. PMCID:PMC11245320

3). Xiao W, Ren L, Chen Z et al. Towards best practice in cancer mutation detection with whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing. Nature Biotechnol. 39, 1141-1150 (2021), Doi: 10.1038/s41587-021- 00994-5. PMCID: PMC8506910

4). Fang LT, Zhu B, Zhao Y, Chen W et al. Establishing community reference samples, data and call sets for benchmarking cancer mutation detection using whole-genome sequencing. Nature Biotechnol. 39, 1151-1160 (2021), Doi: 10.1038/s41587-021-00993-6. PMCID: PMC8532138