美國南加州大學—魯志鵬教授課題組博士后招聘啟事

博士后職位：發育與疾病中的 RNA 相互作用和修飾機制.

南加州大學的魯志鵬博士實驗室招聘兩個由 NIH 資助的博士后研究員。魯志鵬博士現任南加州大學助理教授（加州洛杉磯市），曾獲得Damon Runyon博士后獎以及核酸學會青年科學家獎 （RNA Society Scaringe Award）。我們實驗室致力于發展新的化學與計算生物學方法，用于研究細胞內的核酸結構，相互作用，化學修飾，及其在生理條件下和疾病狀態中的功能， 最終目標是開發新的靶向RNA的策略來治療人類遺傳病、癌癥和病毒感染。近年來，我們開發了多種基于高通量測序的新技術，包括PARIS，SHARC，CRSSANT, 迄今為止在Cell（封面文章）, Genome Research, Genome Biology, Nature Communications，JACS Au 等頂級期刊上發表20多篇學術論文（參見代表性論文列表）。新的博士后研究員將在以下三個主要方向開展工作。我們也歡迎并支持與實驗室當前工作大致相關的新想法。

1. 新發現的 RNA 修飾機制及其在生理和病理環境中的作用，包括干細胞、發育、癌癥和神經系統疾病。我們也對細胞/動物模型的機制研究和臨床前治療開發感興趣。
2. 使用我們最近開發的化學和計算工具 PARIS、SHARC 和 CRSSANT（參考下文）分析細胞內 ncRNA 相互作用網絡。目前的研究重點是 snoRNA、tRNA 片段和 rRNA 片段。
3. 使用我們最近開發的化學和計算工具發現和分析 RNA 介導的宿主-病毒相互作用及其在先天免疫中的作用。我們在幾種 RNA 病毒中發現了許多新的 RNA 相互作用機制 （包括冠狀病毒）。

本實驗室的研究使用各種跨學科的工具。除了我們發展的RNA 2D/3D 分析的化學和計算方法外，我們還使用各種 RNA 相關疾病的動物模型、iPS/類器官模型和人類患者樣本。 博士后將會接觸到與RNA相關的各個領域前沿的問題和技術。這種培訓環境對于有興趣在學術界謀求職業或在制藥行業擔任科學領導職位的個人來說非常有價值。在我們的支持下，課題組的第一位博士后張敏杰已經于 2023 年在天津醫科大學開設了自己的實驗室。

應聘者應擁有或即將獲得博士學位?；緦I包括但不限于分子生物學、遺傳學、生物化學、生物信息學或化學生物學。我們尤其歡迎在各種測序方法和計算生物學方面有相關經驗的人才。該職位的資助期限至少為四年，視績效而定。工資水平參照南加州大學標準（2023年：$64800，高于NIH標準）。應聘者請將一封說明您對該職位感興趣的求職信、您的簡歷以及三位推薦人的聯系信息發送至 zhipengl@usc.edu。具體信息參見主頁：http://zhipenglulab.org.

代表性論文

1. Velema* and Lu* 2023. JACS Au. Chemical RNA Cross-Linking: Mechanisms, Computational Analysis, and Biological Applications.

2. Zhang … Lu* 2022 Genome Research. Classification and clustering of RNA crosslink-ligation data reveal complex structures and homodimers.

3. Van Damme, …, Lu* and Velema*. 2022 Nature Comm. Chemical Reversible Crosslinking Enables Measurement of RNA 3D Distances and Alternative Conformations in Cells. Recommended by Faculty Opinions (https://facultyopinions.com/article/741670636).

4. Zhang … Lu*. 2021 Nature Comm. Optimized photochemistry enables analysis of dynamic RNA structuromes and interactomes in genetic and infectious diseases.

5. Lu* et al. 2020 Nature Comm. Structural modularity of the XIST ribonucleoprotein complex.

6. Lu et al. 2016 Cell. RNA duplex map in living cells reveals higher order transcriptome structure. Featured on the cover and in a paperclip of Cell, Youtube: Get an Eye-full (Eiffel), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GXibPeUUGQ, on the cover of “Best of Cell 2016”. Highlighted in Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, Molecular Cell, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Faculty Opinions and F1000Prime.

7. Lu et al. 2015 RNA. Metazoan tRNA introns generate stable circular RNAs in vivo. 21:1-12

8. Lu et al. 2014 Genome Biology. RIP-seq analysis of eukaryotic Sm proteins identifies three major categories of Sm-containing ribonucleoproteins.

Postdoctoral Positions:

RNA interactions and modification mechanisms in human diseases

Two NIH-funded postdoctoral positions are immediately available in Dr. Zhipeng Lu lab at USC Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in Los Angeles, California. Our research is focused on in vivo RNA structures, interactions, and modification mechanisms. We develop and apply novel chemical and computational technologies to understand the structures and functions of RNA in basic cellular processes, with the ultimate goal of treating human diseases, including genetic disorders, cancers and viral infections. Recent studies include the development of several methods that enabled de novo discovery and modeling of RNA 2D/3D structures and interactions on a transcriptome wide scale in vivo, such as PARIS, SHARC, and CRSSANT, revealing new mechanisms in neurological disorders and infectious diseases.

The projects

We are recruiting postdoctoral fellows to work on the three major directions listed below. We also welcome and support novel and unconventional ideas that are broadly related to the current work in the lab.

1. Newly discovered RNA modification mechanisms and their roles in physiological and pathological contexts, including stem cell, development, cancer, and neurological disorders. We are interested in both mechanistic studies in cell/animal models and pre-clinical therapeutic development.

2. Discovery and functional analysis of cellular ncRNA interaction networks, using our recently developed chemical and computational tools, PARIS, SHARC and CRSSANT (refs below). Current focus is on snoRNAs, tRNA fragments, and rRNA fragments.

3. Discovery and functional analysis of RNA-mediated host-virus interactions, and their roles in innate immunity, using our recently developed chemical and computational tools. We have discovered a number of new RNA interaction mechanisms in several RNA viruses.

The lab

Research in the Lu lab is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative. In addition to our state-of-the-art methods and core computational and chemical expertise for in vivo RNA 2D/3D analysis, we also have animal models, iPS/organide models, and human patient samples for a variety of RNA-related diseases. Postdocs are exposed to research questions and techniques in the forefront of various fields centered on RNA. This training environment is exceptionally valuable for individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in academia or scientific leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry. The first postdoc from our group has started his own lab in 2023 at Tianjin Medical University.

The candidate

Candidates should have or expect a Ph.D. and/or an M.D. and less than three years of postdoctoral experience. Candidates should also have significant experimental training in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, or chemical biology, as evidenced by publications. Experience in various sequencing methods and computational biology is highly valued. The position is funded for at least four years, contingent on performance. To apply, please send a cover letter discussing your interests in the position, your CV, and contact information for three references to zhipengl@usc.edu. You can find additional information at www.zhipenglulab.org.

Selected recent publications:

1. Velema* and Lu* 2023. JACS Au. Chemical RNA Cross-Linking: Mechanisms, Computational Analysis, and Biological Applications.

2. Zhang … Lu* 2022 Genome Research. Classification and clustering of RNA crosslink-ligation data reveal complex structures and homodimers.

3. Van Damme, …, Lu* and Velema*. 2022 Nature Comm. Chemical Reversible Crosslinking Enables Measurement of RNA 3D Distances and Alternative Conformations in Cells. Recommended by Faculty Opinions (https://facultyopinions.com/article/741670636).

4. Zhang … Lu*. 2021 Nature Comm. Optimized photochemistry enables analysis of dynamic RNA structuromes and interactomes in genetic and infectious diseases.

5. Lu* et al. 2020 Nature Comm. Structural modularity of the XIST ribonucleoprotein complex.

6. Lu et al. 2016 Cell. RNA duplex map in living cells reveals higher order transcriptome structure. Featured on the cover and in a paperclip of Cell, Youtube: Get an Eye-full (Eiffel), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GXibPeUUGQ, on the cover of “Best of Cell 2016”. Highlighted in Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, Molecular Cell, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Faculty Opinions and F1000Prime.