Duke University, Biomedical Engineering

Position ID:

Duke-BME-DUKEBURSAC5 [#27389]

Position Title:

Postdoctoral Associate

Position Type:

Postdoctoral

Position Location:

Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States of America

Subject Area:

Engineering / Biomedical

Appl Deadline:

none (posted 2024/03/21)

Position Description:

Postdoctoral Associate in Human Skeletal Muscle Disease Modeling and Therapy

Postdoctoral position is immediately available in the Bursac lab (http://bursaclab.pratt.duke.edu/) with the focus on use of human primary myoblasts and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) for studies of skeletal muscle biology, disease, and regeneration. Specifically, miniature 3-dimensional human skeletal muscle tissues (“myobundles”) will be designed to contain robust contractile myofibers and a pool of functional satellite cells starting from myogenic progenitors isolated from donor biopsies or differentiated from hiPSCs. These skeletal muscle organoids will be further combined with human primary or iPSC-derived motoneurons, endothelial cells, immune system cells, or interstitial cells to develop more realistic, high-fidelity models of skeletal muscle tissue, pertaining to studies of specific biological and pathophysiological processes. The initial focus will be on modeling skeletal muscle inflammation, denervation and reinnervation, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Dysferlinopathy, and Pompe disease. Genome engineering techniques (CRISPR/Cas9) will be further utilized to improve understanding of genotype-phenotype relationships in isogenic backgrounds. Pharmacological studies will be applied to discover new therapeutic targets to improve skeletal muscle function and regeneration. Most promising therapeutic candidates will be validated in animal models of muscle disease and injury in vivo.

Qualifications include PhD in cell and molecular biology, biomedical engineering, or other relevant areas of biomedical sciences. The ideal candidate will be highly self-motivated and possess strong training in muscle biology and physiology, molecular biology, biochemical, and histological techniques. Candidates with experience in culturing and differentiation of hiPSCs, genome editing, and in vivo models of muscle injury and disease will be given priority. Postdoctoral fellows are expected to publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals, participate and present in scientific conferences, engage in existing and new collaborations within and outside Duke University, assist with training of undergraduate and graduate students, and write grant and fellowship applications, as needed. The training environment of the Bursac group is highly interdisciplinary and provides ample opportunities for scientific growth and pursuit of both academic and industry careers. Duke University is an equal opportunity employer. Interested candidates should send their resume, statement of research goals, and names of three reference writers to Dr. Nenad Bursac (nbursac@duke.edu).

Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Application Materials Required:

Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:

Cover letter
Curriculum Vitae
Three reference letters (to be submitted online by the reference writers on this site )

And anything else requested in the position description.

Further Info:

http://www.bme.duke.edu

http://www.bme.duke.edu