Two positions are available in the Walker lab in the SUNY at Buffalo Department of Biological Sciences. The Walker lab has recently identified posttranslational modifications regulating activity of eIF4A, the DEAD-box RNA helicase required for mRNA association with ribosomes in all eukaryotic cells, and linked these events to regulation of translation and RNA granule levels in yeast. We also identified a correlation between reduced eIF4B levels and cancer patient survival, and went on to show that targeted reduction of eIF4B levels in murine breast cancer cells led to metastatic behavior and decreased survival in mice. Current projects in the lab aim to follow up on these results and others, and the PI welcomes discussion of additional project ideas. The research is supported by NIH and DOD grants, and employs a variety of techniques, including reconstituted and cellular biochemical assays, microscopy, transcriptome analyses, transcriptome-wide ribosome profiling, and high-throughput cell-sorting assays for translation initiation factor activities. We work in yeast and mammalian cell models and collaborate with researchers that perform complementary experiments in mice and using patient samples.

The researcher will have opportunities to collaborate with other genetics, proteomics, structural/biophysics, immunology, and oncology researchers to gain insights tying basic molecular mechanisms to aspects of human health.

She/he/they should be respectful of others and contribute to and/or be excited about working with a team of researchers from diverse backgrounds.

Please apply at https://www.ubjobs.buffalo.edu/postings/49438 and contact Sarah with any questions at [email protected].

Outstanding Benefits Package

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As an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer, the Research Foundation will not discriminate in its employment practices due to an applicant’s race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin and veteran or disability status.

Job duties

o          Planning and performing experiments, including reading papers and making protocols; preparing proteins, ribosomes, and other reagents as needed; growing cells; analyzing ribosome, protein, RNA levels and association with translation factors
o          Data analysis
o          Read and write drafts of scientific articles
o          Present work routinely at lab meetings, the Buffalo RNA Interest Group, and regional and national/international conferences
o          Provide some in lab supervision/training to a lab technician and students

Minimum qualifications: Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Biology (or cell, molecular, micro), Chemistry, Immunology, Genetics, or related fields and relevant laboratory experience. She/he/they should have familiarity with subject matter and techniques used in the lab and excitement about the projects.

Preferred qualifications: The ideal applicant would have experience in one or more of the following areas.

o          RNA and protein biochemistry, such as purifying proteins, synthesizing RNAs, performing fluorescence assays, running gels and western blots
o          Generation of libraries for illumina and/or Nanopore sequencing and computational skills for alignments, counting, and further analysis of large sequencing datasets
o          Experience with flow cytometry or other high-throughput screens.