Postdoctoral fellowship at NIH studying functions and regulation of microRNAs 

Fully‐funded  postdoc  positions  are  available  in  a  new  lab  group  starting  at  the  NIH  main  campus  in  Bethesda, Maryland. Research in the McJunkin lab has two major long‐term goals: 1) to define the biological  functions  of  miRNAs  during  embryogenesis  and  2)  to  elucidate  mechanisms  of  miRNA  turnover. Using C. elegans as a model organism to address these questions, we will combine the strengths  of  classical  forward  genetics  with  CRISPR‐Cas‐9‐mediated  genome  editing,  next‐generation  sequencing, cell biology, and biochemical techniques. Because embryonically‐expressed miRNAs exhibit a  sharp  decrease  in  abundance  at  the  end  of  embryogenesis,  our  efforts  to  simultaneously  study  the  biology of these miRNAs and the mechanisms of miRNA decay has the potential to uncover regulatory modules that couple miRNA decay to developmental timing.

The NIH main campus is a vibrant and collaborative research environment boasting over four hundred research groups and an active postdoc community. Bethesda, Maryland is part of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan  area,  and  the  NIH  main  campus  is  easily  accessible  by  the  Washington,  D.C.  subway  system.

Applicants must have completed a Ph.D. and/or M.D. within the last three years. Expertise in molecular biology  and  strong  verbal  and  written  communication  skills  are  required.  Experience  in  either  RNA  biology or C. elegans research is desirable. International scientists and U.S. citizens are equally eligible for these fully‐funded positions.

For  more  information,  please  see  our  website  (bit.ly/mcjunkin).  To  apply,  please  send  a  cover  letter  describing  which  aspect  of  our  research  program  you  are  interested  to  pursue,  a  CV,  and  contact information for three references to mcjunkin@nih.gov.