Summary

The Tran lab in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics is seeking a talented and motivated Postdoctoral Associate to lead projects that will examine the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration and axon regeneration in the central nervous system (CNS). 

About our research: CNS neurons have a limited ability to recover from damage and for many neurodegenerative conditions there are limited treatment options. Our lab uses a variety of mouse genetic and high throughput single-cell multi-omic approaches to dissect the molecular pathways that mediate neuronal survival and growth at tissue scale with cellular resolution. We utilize the retina as an approachable part of the CNS to study these processes. Our goal is to identify and study factors that can promote neuroprotection and simulate regeneration in the adult CNS. 

To learn more about our research please visit the following webpage: https://nmtranlab.com/

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to pursue in the following areas:

• Neuronal resilience to axonal damage- Our previous work demonstrated that retinal ganglion cells survival after nerve injury is strongly cell type dependent. This project will investigate cellular mechanisms underlying retinal ganglion cell resilience. In particular, we are interested in how features related to neural activity influence survival and axon regeneration after injury and in glaucoma.  
• Retinal ganglion cell type development- Retinal ganglion cells are remarkably diverse, comprising ~46 types in mice. We are using single cell multi-omic approaches to discover how retinal ganglion cell types are specified during development. 

 
BCM is centrally situated in Houston in the Texas Medical Center, the largest biomedical research center in the world, offering exceptional collaborative opportunities and resources. The Molecular and Human Genetics department consistently ranks nationally among the top genetics departments for NIH funding. The Postdoctoral Associate will have access to BCM's world-class advanced technology cores, animal facilities, and high-performance computational resources to conduct their experiments. Houston is among the most diverse cities in the country, with many cultural amenities, world-class museums, urban parks, and a relatively low cost of living for a large metropolitan area.  
  
The Postdoctoral Associate will design and conduct experiments and analyze results under the guidance of the PI.  Specific experimental duties will depend on the research topic of choice but will be expected to cover a broad range of molecular and genetic approaches. 

Job Duties

• Maintains an organized daily electronic laboratory notebook.

• Meets with Dr. Tran to discuss their work.

• Presents results in professional forums (seminars, meetings, and conferences).

• Publishes findings in peer-reviewed journals.

• Performs assigned general laboratory chores.
   

Minimum Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.
• No experience required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong academic training in genetics and neurobiology 
• Demonstrated interest in vision science, neurodegeneration, and/or axon regeneration 
• Experience in animal surgery, immunohistochemistry, and molecular biology
• Experience in bioinformatics and single-cell genomics a plus