A Postdoctoral research position is immediately available (01/12/21) in the NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology and in the Department of Molecular Biosciences at Northwestern University. The postdoctoral scholar will work on the NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology’s Project 4: Pluripotency under the direction of project leaders and investigators Alec Wang and Ji-Ping Wang.
This project conducts single-cell CRISPRi and RNA-seq analysis on mouse pluripotent embryonic cells in culture. The project induces their lineage restriction to neural, mesodermal, and neural crest states using established culture treatments. These data are subject to dimensional reduction in order to discover the gene regulatory network dynamics during maintenance of pluripotency and transition away from pluripotency. This provides insight into how these stages of embryonic development are conserved in terms of cell-state dynamics.
The successful candidate will employ high throughput genomics (e.g. CRISPR and next-generation sequencing) and computational tools to study dynamic gene regulatory networks in mammalian stem cells.
Examples of the project team’s representative publications include: https://biorxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.04.20.050559v1, Cell 167 (1555-1570), Journal of American Statistical Association 109 (48-62), Molecular Cell 55 (758-770), Nature 486 (496–501).
Applicants should have a Ph.D. or equivalent in relevant fields. A background in genomics or computational biology or stem cell biology is a plus. The candidate will work with a group of developmental and computational biologists in a highly interdisciplinary environment. Prior interdisciplinary experience is not required. Applications from women and minority candidates are strongly encouraged.
The NSF-Simons Center for Quantitative Biology at Northwestern University is a place where mathematical scientists and developmental biologists intensely work together on a broad range of questions arising from investigations into the biology of animal development. The scientific goals of the Center require new approaches to studying the growth and development of living organisms. To promote innovation and creativity, the Center uses funds from the Simons Foundation and the NSF to provide salary and research support for postdoctoral scholars. Scholars conduct their research under the mentorship of one of the Center faculty as part of his/her research group. Supported postdoctoral scholars are designated Center for Quantitative Biology Scholars.
The Scholars Program is designed to enhance interaction, training, and collaboration among participants in order to stimulate creative thinking and interdisciplinary science. Scholars work in close conjunction with scientists in other disciplines, often embedded with these groups as well as their homegroup. The appointment includes a competitive salary with fringe benefits and access to travel funds.
Scholars also participate in the vibrant intellectual life of the Center, which offers an exceptional training program in interdisciplinary science. Scholars participate in the following activities: Monthly Research-in-Progress meetings; Center workshops; Center seminars; Annual Center Symposium; Training in instructional practice and mentoring in interdisciplinary classrooms and labs; Mentorship experience in the Science Club program for middle school students.
Interested applicants should email their curriculum vitae and contact information for three references to Professor Alec Wang awang@northwestern.edu.
