Post Doctoral.Post Doctoral.Associate

University of Pittsburgh • Pittsburgh, PA

3d

About The Position

The Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, is seeking to hire a Postdoctoral Associate. Research in the St. Hilaire Lab focuses on identifying and characterizing the mechanisms underlying the development of vascular and valvular calcification pathologies and bioprosthetic valve failure, with specific interest in defining the mechanisms by which genetic mutations, inflammation, and mechanical stress drive the transformation of a healthy cells into calcifying cells. For these investigations the St. Hilaire Lab obtains human tissues from patients with various cardiovascular diseases, utilizes murine models and primary human patient cells and tissues to create in vitro and ex vivo disease models, and performs biochemical, biomechanical, molecular biology, and next generation sequencing techniques.
We are seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join our team investigating the molecular and epigenetic mechanisms driving Calcific Aortic Valve Disease (CAVD). Our research focuses on understanding how Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], a causal genetic risk factor, initiates the osteogenic reprogramming of valve interstitial cells (VICs). Specifically, the project explores a groundbreaking paradigm where telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) adopts a non-canonical, telomere-independent role, acting as a nuclear scaffold that interacts with the transcription factor STAT5 and chromatin remodelers to activate pro-calcific gene transcription. The successful Candidate will lead experimental efforts to elucidate this Lp(a)-driven TERT/STAT5 signaling cascade using primary human cell cultures, multi-omics (such as RNA-seq and ATAC-seq), molecular mapping, and live-cell imaging with our custom splitFAST biosensor system. Furthermore, while the postdoc will not be responsible for the in silico or structure-based design of the therapeutics, a major task will involve conducting rigorous in vitro and in vivo testing of these newly engineered small molecule and peptide inhibitors. The Candidate will be responsible for evaluating these drugs for their ability to successfully disrupt the TERT/STAT5 interaction and rescue the calcification phenotype in disease models.

Requirements

• PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, genetics, or similar science with experience in Vascular biology.

Responsibilities

• Lead experimental efforts to elucidate this Lp(a)-driven TERT/STAT5 signaling cascade using primary human cell cultures, multi-omics (such as RNA-seq and ATAC-seq), molecular mapping, and live-cell imaging with our custom splitFAST biosensor system.
• Conduct rigorous in vitro and in vivo testing of these newly engineered small molecule and peptide inhibitors.
• Evaluate these drugs for their ability to successfully disrupt the TERT/STAT5 interaction and rescue the calcification phenotype in disease models.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees