The Brown Lab at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (https://www.umassmed.edu/brownlab/) has immediate post-doctoral positions open in gene modulation therapy for ALS and related neurodegenerative diseases.  As one component of a new “Accelerator Initiative”( https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2022/02/umass-alumni-dan-and-diane-riccio-pledge-$15-million-to-advance-als-neuroscience-research/), we are pursuing several approaches to modifying adverse gene variants that are implicated in both familial and sporadic ALS.  These include gene suppression (e.g. antisense oligonucleotides activating RNAse H), gene augmentation (small activating RNAs), and gene editing (e.g. gene editing, base editing, splice modification).  This program entails a productive, close collaboration with Jonathan Watts and Anastasia Khvorova in the UMass Chan RNA Therapeutics Institute.  This program is built upon our recent pilot human studies in suppression of two ALS genes, SOD1 (PMID 32640133) and C9orf72 (PMID 34949835). Our explicit goal is to transition rapidly from pre-clinical studies to pilot human studies for several other ALS genes.  It is our hope that the approaches developed in this program will be broadly applicable to a wide variety of human disorders.

Preferred qualifications:

• D. in Neuroscience, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, or Related Discipline.
• Skilled in conventional molecular methods such as quantitative methods for qualitative and quantitative analysis of gene expression (qPCR, ddPCR, Southern, Northern and Western blotting), gene cloning;
• Experience culturing neurogenic cell lines;
• Some experience in culturing and differentiation of human iPSC is desirable, but not an absolute prerequisite;
• Analogously for generation of key sequences for therapeutic oligonucleic acids; understanding aspects of oligonucleic acid synthesis and purification;
• Some experience with animal therapy trials (mainly mice), including drug dosing by various routes of administration (SC, IV, IP, oral gavage, IT);
• Behavioral analysis of mouse models;
• Ability to compile and analyze data using standard statistical methods.

UMass Chan offers strong support and mentoring, a collaborative research environment, a competitive salary with benefits, and visa sponsorship available. 

Interested applicants should submit the following materials via email to Susan Jacobs (susan.jacobs@umassmed.edu) and Robert Brown (robert.brown@umassmed.edu):  a cover letter describing current research activities and your interest in this position, a current CV (including publications), and contact information for three references, one of which should be your Ph.D. advisor.   

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