Summary

The Jankowsky lab seeks a postdoctoral fellow to develop gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease. We have identified peptide variants that prevent and reverse amyloid formation. By vectorizing these peptides for viral delivery into the brain, we reduce plaque pathology in mouse models of AD (Park et al., Mol. Ther., 2021, PMID 33647457). We now want to examine how dosing and route of delivery influence efficacy and define the neuroimmune response to viral gene transfer. Future studies will apply the same strategy against tau by identifying sequence variants which prevent aggregation and can be vectorized for viral delivery. Researchers will work as part of a team combining mouse genetic engineering, viral brain transduction, neurohistology, and basic biochemistry to understand Alzheimer's path.  You can learn more about our lab and ongoing projects at our website: https://www.bcm.edu/research/labs-and-centers/faculty-labs/joanna-jankowsky-lab

The laboratory is located at the main Baylor College of Medicine campus which enjoys a vibrant and collegial scientific environment. BCM itself is located in Houston's Texas Medical Center, a 1,000-acre complex of over 50 independent institutions within easy access. Houston is the fourth largest city in the US and is home to a diverse international population. The city offers great restaurants, a warm climate, and affordable housing. Additional Information: The appointment is for an initial term of one year, with the expectation of continued support pending successful progress. The position comes with competitive salary and benefits, commensurate with experience. The start date is flexible, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Application Documents:

Required Documents: Resume/CV, including contact information for 3 references

Job Duties

• Designs and conducts research experiments.
• Selects and determines appropriate research procedures.
• Collects, compiles and analyzes data.
• Conducts literature searches and summarize information needed for particular studies.
• Documents and interprets results of experiments.
• Prepares experimental results for publication and oral presentation

Minimum Qualifications

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background in molecular biology.
• Experience with amyloid biology and mouse models for amyloidosis.
• Highly self-motivated with outstanding experimental skills.
• Able to think independently but also work well in a team.