Positions Available

POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR CELL BIOLOGY

A number of postdoctoral positions are available in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in the laboratory of Professor Carolyn K. Suzuki.   The general research area of the lab is mitochondrial biogenesis.  We focus on the role of mitochondrial ATP-dependent proteases and chaperones in protein quality control, mitochondrial DNA stability, apoptosis and cancer.

Qualifications:  Candidate must possess a Doctoral level degree in biochemistry, cell biology or a relevant scientific discipline.  Experience in some or all of the following areas is required: mammalian cell culture, RNA interference, microscopy, protein purification, enzyme kinetics, DNA protein:interaction analysis, molecular biology. 

Responsibilities: There are 3 projects: (1) Analyzing the function of human Tid1, which is a potential tumor suppressor and a homolog of the bacterial molecular chaperone DnaJ.  Tid1 is important as a chaperone in the folding and degradation of proteins within mitochondria, as well as in the cytosol.  Tid1 modulates intracellular signaling pathways associated with the innate immune response and apoptosis.  Experiments will be conducted using cultured mammalian cells, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae and/or purified proteins. (2) Understanding the role of the mitochondrial ATP-dependent proteases Lon and ClpXP in the quality control of mitochondrial proteins and mitochondrial DNA.  Experiments will address the role of Lon and ClpXP in response to cellular stresses such as hypoxia, oxidative stress, cardiac ischemia and hypertrophy.  Experiments will be conducted using cultured mammalian cells, yeast Saccharomyces cerevisae and/or purified proteins.  (3) Development of high throughput screening assays for identifying small molecule modulators of Lon and/or ClpXP.  Biochemical as well as cell culture assays will be employed. 

Under the supervision of the mentor, the post-doctoral fellow will be expected to design, conduct and optimize experiments, and to interpret data.  Detailed records of experimental protocols, manipulations and data must precisely documented in laboratory notebooks.  The fellow is expected to present original data at laboratory/departmental meetings, as well as national or international conferences.  With the supervision of the mentor, fellow is expected to contribute substantially to the writing and preparation of manuscripts and grant proposals.  The fellow will also participate in the orientation and training of students and other more junior post-doctoral fellows in the lab.  Responsible for transferring conceptual and technical information so that others develop procedural laboratory expertise.

Please send Curriculum Vitae and a personal statement to:
Carolyn K. Suzuki, Ph.D.
UMDNJ- New Jersey Medical School
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
185 South Orange Avenue MSB E-633
Newark, New Jersey 07103
Email: suzukick@umdnj.edu

6/24/09