Bennett (Ben) Novitch

Professor, Neurobiology

I have a strong commitment to training and mentoring scientists at all levels, and am particularly interested in recruiting some postdocs to my group.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

The Novitch Lab at UCLA

Lab Website:

https://novitchlab.com/ 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

We have several NIH funded projects with openings available for qualified postdoctoral researchers. The timeline for hiring is flexible.

Research Keywords:

Bioengineering, Cell biology, Molecular biology and cell biology, Neurobiology, Neuroscience

Research Description:

My lab investigates the differentiation of neural stem and progenitor cells, emphasizing molecular signals, transcriptional networks, and downstream factors controlling the development of specific brain and spinal cord cell types and circuits. Recently, we’ve applied this knowledge to guide the formation of human brain and spinal cord tissues using embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells. Employing both two-dimensional cell culture and innovative three-dimensional organoid methods, we aim to push the boundaries of these technologies to model human neural development. Our ultimate goals are to explore the causes of various neurological disorders (such as autism and neurodegenerative disorders) and identify therapeutic possibilities.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I firmly believe that my success as a scientist is intertwined with my success as a research mentor.  I am fully committed to helping trainees be the best scientists that they can be, helping to formulate ideas, provide direct guidance in experimental design, data analysis strategies, and packaging ideas and results into papers, presentations, and grant proposals.  I believe in a personal level of mentorship which evolves through regular communications to define shared goals, address challenges, and identify strategies for personal and professional accomplishment.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

In the past few years, I have had 3 postdocs leave my group:

• Momoko Watanabe, Ph.D., currently an assistant professor at University of California, Irvine
• Ranmal Samarasinghe, M.D., Ph.D., currently an assistant professor at University of California, Los Angeles
• Caroline Pearson, Ph.D., currently an assistant professor at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.

EDI Statement:

Significant progress in science requires identifying and tackling problems from different perspectives.  Indeed, numerous studies have suggested that both quality and impact of research may be enriched by the assembly of teams of scientists representing diverse cultural and personal characteristics.  This viewpoint is one of the guiding principles that I have sought to embody within my laboratory and classrooms.  I further strive to ensure that my workgroup embraces individuality and that all voices are equally heard and respected.

I am particularly proud of the diversity and overall climate within my laboratory.  Currently and historically, we have been equally gendered balanced, multicultural in our backgrounds, and representative of a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender expressions.  Presently, my group is comprised of scientists reflecting a range of Asian, Central American, Central European, Eurasian, Middle Eastern, and North American cultural traditions.  I have also endeavored to help the members of my group face their challenges in achieving a happy and productive work-life balance.  Familial obligations are a major stress contributing to the dropout of women in science, and one of my priorities has been to establish a work environment that is flexible and all-inclusive to help plug this leak in the pipeline.  

One of the major sources of diversity in my group has been our participation in the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine-supported Cal State Northridge (CSUN)-UCLA Bridges to Stem Cell Research Program.  This program enables CSUN undergraduate and master’s degree students, many of whom are from underrepresented and/or socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, to spend a year working full time in a stem cell research lab learning practical skills, how to conduct science at the highest level, and developing a path for personal and professional development even when encountering significant barriers.  As an example, one of our former students in this program was an immigrant from El Salvador who was in the US under the Temporary Protected Status policy and facing expulsion from the country due to the recission of this Policy by the Trump administration. Graduate training in the US was thus not an option for him.  With the training and support that he received in my laboratory, he successfully transitioned to a doctoral program in Developmental Neuroscience at the Institute of Science and Technology in Austria, where he has thrived.  The path has been similar for several others who have passed through my lab as part of the Bridges program and went on to successful academic and professional careers.  My lab has been regularly involved in additional UCLA undergraduate research training programs such as MARC*USTAR and COMPASS that seek to engage students from underrepresented populations.  We have a similarly strong track record of success helping these trainees maximize their potential as students and scientists, with most of our alumni/ae having gone on to pursue graduate and medical school training.

Lastly, I have been actively involved in higher-level DEI initiatives seeking to broaden the makeup and improve the overall climate of the University, Department, and neuroscience field more broadly.  For instance, I recently served on the Neurobiology Mentor Professor Search Committee and have been proactive in multiple faculty recruitment efforts linked to the Mentor Professor Program, Rising to the Challenge initiative, and other hiring initiatives.  Currently, I am on a faculty search committee for the Regeneration Theme/Broad Stem Cell Research Center.  Outside of UCLA, I have served as a reviewer for applicants to the NIH BRAIN Initiative Advanced Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity K99/R00 program.  Finally, I have been an active participant in our Department’s recently established Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) monthly workshop series and community building events which seek to improve our culture awareness and communication skills, celebrate our local diversity, and provide a forum for discussing societal conflicts that impact our personal and professional lives.

Brunilda Balliu

Assistant Professor, Computational Medicine

Interested in hiring postdoc

Personal Info:

Refugee (Albania to Greece), Immigrant to the US, low income background.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Balliu Lab

Lab Website:

https://brunildaballiu.github.io/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

We have an opening for a postdoctoral position for quantitatively skilled PhDs.

Research Keywords:

Bioinformatics, Biostatistics, Human Genetics

Research Description:

We are a newly minted (est. July 2022) computational research group in the Departments of Pathology, Computational Medicine, and Biostatistics at UCLA. We develop novel statistical methods and computational tools for analyzing high-dimensional repeated measures and intensive longitudinal data such as those arising from high-throughput genomic assays, mobile phone and wearable sensors, and electronic health records. We apply these methods to understand the genetic, molecular, cellular, and environmental mechanisms underlying complex human traits and diseases, with a focus on metabolic and psychiatric phenotypes.

Mentoring Philosophy:

We mentor postdocs with a strong foundation in quantitative disciplines (statistics, math, computer science, etc) who are interested in developing new methods with answer biological questions. We collaborate closely with experimental labs to generate novel high-throughput molecular data, e.g. multiome single cell RNA- and ATAC-seq data.

EDI Statement:

I grew up in a remote village of Albania with no running water or electricity, let alone a connection to the scientific community. During Albania’s economic collapse and civil war, my family fled across the border into Greece. Newly arrived at nine, with no knowledge of Greek, math became the only language I could communicate in. I attended a high school in a predominantly immigrant neighborhood. Refugee students like myself were not a welcome addition to Athens; teachers were sent to our school as a punishment for misbehaving at nicer ones. If you wanted to learn, you were on your own. The impact of this neglect had profound implications for our future opportunities; while the university system is free, admittance is based around a single country-wide exam that we were not being prepared for. Students in wealthier neighborhoods had the benefit of wonderful teachers as well as private after-school programs to prepare for the entrance exams.  

Our community’s solution to this problem was to create our own free version of these classes taught in Albanian. Due to our language of choice and the rise of Greece’s neo-Nazis, this activity was banned from the high school and took place in our own apartments. Math and statistics always came easier to me and I offered free tutoring in these areas to the high school students in my neighborhood. I scored very well on the entrance exam as did a number of my students. 

When I started in university, I quickly saw how much of an advantage students from more advantaged backgrounds had coming into college. They knew what to expect and did not have to work while attending university. As an undergraduate, I continued to teach statistics (mostly econometrics) to low-income students who, like me, worked during normal class hours.

I never imagined that I would attend a Ph.D. program in my fourth language in yet another country, or do a postdoc, or get a faculty position on the other side of the world. Each step seemed a miracle, but each step was also filled with people that somehow knew shortcuts, tricks, and magic incantations to part seas. I was surprised and saddened to see that several of the issues I encountered as an immigrant in Greece were also present in high school and colleges in the US and in Los Angeles. I hope that I can use my own experience to help fix these inequities at every step of the process. I am dedicated to promoting diversity in my lab and my research as well as creating an environment where students of different backgrounds and life experiences can thrive.

Catherine Cahill

Professor, Psychiatry

I have NIH funding to recruit a postdoctoral fellow to work on chronic pain and substance use disorder.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Pain and Addiction Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.semel.ucla.edu/cahill-lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

This Spring. 

Research Keywords:

Neuroscience, Pharmacology, Physiology

Research Description:

Pain and Addiction

Mentoring Philosophy:

“The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house

 of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind.”

Kahlil Gibran

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Anna Taylor – Assistant Professor at University of Alberta

EDI Statement:

Being a woman in science, diversity has always been an important consideration in my career. I am committed to fulfilling UCLA’s mission to “build an equal learning, working, and living environment, by holding ourselves accountable to our professed ideals.” I strive to raise awareness and address challenges that underserved and underrepresented students and faculty face as a function of biological and cultural differences including race, gender, ethnic, and socioeconomic background. I have experienced and witnessed many acts of discrimination against women and minorities.  For example, after finishing my undergraduate degree, I worked for a small medical diagnostic company that paid me less than half of what my male counterpart received, even though he was less educated.  The president of the company rationalized that I should be paid less because I was single and my male counterpart had to support his wife. Such challenges still exist for women in STEM today.  It is worth noting that I come from a small rural area in Canada from a disadvantaged home and I was a first-generation college student, so I am sympathetic to those who have to struggle and compete to achieve their career goals.

My laboratory has always included a diversity of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, sexual orientation and disabilities. Over the last three years I have mentored 6 graduate and postdoctoral trainees – all are women but many recognize as first generation, a racial/ethnic minority group or come from a disadvantaged background. I have also supervised 29 undergraduate SRP students (15 were women), two are in the CARE & MSD Scholars program, which is only open to educationally or socio-economically disadvantaged background such as African-American, Latino/a, Chicano/a, Native American, Native Pacific Islander (Micronesia and Polynesia), and Native Alaskan students, five recognize themselves as under-represented minorities, and others recognize themselves within the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. I have actively sought out opportunities to mentor students from underrepresented groups along the academic trajectory.  As evidence for my commitment to promote equity diversity and inclusion (EDI), I encourage and provide leadership opportunities for a number of my EDI trainees, such as assigning them defined projects, helping build confidence by sending students to scientific conferences and giving opportunities for oral presentations in journal clubs and center meetings. I strongly believe that enhancing EDI benefits from starting early in the process of engagement, and for me this begins with undergraduate students. I have supervised four Hispanic undergraduate students since my last merit review that have received a number of awards from my mentorship and provided such opportunities; one has received the David Geffen scholarship to cover expenses during medical school.

Outside of the classroom and research, I have also sought leadership and service opportunities to promote diversity and an inclusionary environment, including promoting change that aims to foster more women to stay in science.  I served as co-chair for the last two years on a working group that promotes EDI in the International Narcotic Research Conference.  I also belong to a new BRI affinity group at UCLA called Women in Neuroscience (spearheaded by Dr. Melissa Sharpe).

Chuchu Zhang

Assistant Professor, Physiology

Hiring prospective postdoc.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Zhang Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.chuchuzhanglab.com

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Yes. Positions will be available as soon as 2024.

Research Keywords:

Biology, Molecular toxicology, Neurobiology, Neurophysiology, Neuroscience, Physiology

Research Description:

Nausea is a visceral sensation of malaise that can be evoked by a dizzying array of poisons, pathogens, and diseases. The sensory neuroscience of nausea remains poorly understood despite its clinical importance. The Zhang Lab will primarily focus on the peripheral sensory mechanisms of nausea. We are interested to identify key nausea signal transduction machineries and sensory neurons that mediate the nausea responses. The long-term goals are to understand the physiology, neural circuitry, and molecular mechanisms of nausea in clinically relevant conditions, including food allergy, pregnancy, and radiation. Clinical management of nausea and emesis can often be ineffective. By defining stimulus-specific nausea mechanisms, we hope to understand how to improve current anti-emetic treatments.

To study mechanisms, the Zhang Lab will span molecular biology, cell physiology, organ physiology, neural circuits, and all the way to behaviors. We combine mouse genetics tools with emetic animal models, and we use techniques including in vivo and ex vivo imaging, electrophysiology, natural products screening, and RNA sequencing.

Questions that excite us include: What are the neural types that mediate peripheral detection of nausea cues in the gut? What are the molecular basis (i.e. receptors) for detecting nausea cues? What are the mechanisms that underlie distinct nausea conditions, for example, pregnancy, food poisoning and food allergy?

Mentoring Philosophy:

For teaching and mentoring, I will devote the majority of my time to mentoring trainees in my lab. 

I have worked with trainees at different experience levels. I have provided conceptual and technical feedback on their projects and offered career advice. I have co-authored papers with four of my mentees, and many have transitioned to their next step careers, which have been a source of gratification for me. These experiences have shaped my mentoring philosophy, which is people learn differently. An essential part of my mentoring is to understand expectations and goals, and to communicate openly as equal parties. With junior trainees, I will work closely to demonstrate technical rigor and experimental strategies. As they become more independent, I will give them room to grow in accountability, confidence, and maturity, as well as room to fail, but make sure that they never fall off track. For senior trainees, I would discuss effective management strategies, project goals, and prioritization strategies.  

Another part of my teaching is to value curiosity-guided learning. Throughout my training, I was able to explore what truly interests me and work on projects that are not only important but also pretty fun, which really fosters effective learning. I would like to provide this environment for my trainees so that they can work on things that really interest them. They should feel free to bring their intellectual contribution to the projects.

I will offer space and opportunities for my trainees to explore other career options than traditional academia. I myself benefited from exploring options before deciding that an academic career is what I want to pursue. It’s my responsibility as a mentor to give them time, space, and opportunities to get the skills they need to be successful in their career choice.

EDI Statement:

I will address inclusion, diversity, and issues of social injustice through recruiting, mentoring, and supporting diverse members, and continued education in my own lab.

I will prioritize building a research group with people from diverse backgrounds through recruitment by participating in training programs that aim to support diverse scientists at an early stage of their careers. Throughout my training, I have worked with high school and undergraduate students from groups under-represented in higher education in summer research programs, where I provided input and mentorship on scientific projects, critical thinking, and writing skills. I find these bottom-up initiatives important means to enact change and encourage people from diverse backgrounds to understand what STEM is like and what research is like. I will continue to participate in similar programs as a faculty member and prioritize building a research team with undergraduates, graduates, and postdocs from diverse backgrounds.

I am also particularly interested in supporting women and immigrant scientists. As a mother in science, I also think deeply about equity in academia as I have personally experienced some of the biases. For example, limited maternity leave, high cost of childcare, housing insecurity, and limited lactation facilities at work and conferences. I have been fortunate to join a fantastic group of peer mentors through the Leading Edge Fellow program, which promotes gender diversity in life science faculty. By building this supportive network of female scientists at different career stages, we share successes as well as failures, encourage, advocate, and help each other to achieve our career goals. Now as I gained experience navigating the academic career, I have been actively paying forward to help the next generations of Leading Edge Fellows. Similarly, I will prioritize helping female trainees in my future lab by helping them build supportive networks of their own.

I am also interested in supporting immigrant scientists, who may feel unwelcome and seek extra support, information, and advocacy in academia. I, as an immigrant, had to navigate many of the hurdles, such as limited access to grant opportunities, hostile immigration policies for travel, and barriers to science communications. These can limit future immigrant scientists to come and pursue scientific careers in the US, which have already started to affect scientific communities in the US. I will help build a supportive network where we can discuss related issues and share tools that are available.

I believe that my success in science relies on positive mentoring relationships. For all the students and trainees recruited to my lab, I understand that they may face barriers, discrimination, lack of opportunities or time, and need extra support in their work and an inclusive environment to be themselves. I will aim to create a supportive environment with a core value of respect and dignity, providing mentorship through understanding expectations and goals, and communicating openly as equal parties. As an important part of this, my future lab will also have ongoing DEI training and open dialogues. We will regularly devote journal clubs to topics surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Lab members, including myself, will participate in the training workshops for continued learning.

Daniel Lu

Professor/Dr., Neurosurgery

I would like to connect with postdoctoral candidates interested in working on both clinical and basic science research projects.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Dr. Lu’s Neuroplasticity & Repair Laboratory Team

Lab Website:

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/neurosurgery/research/research-grant-funding/neuroplasticity-and-repair-laboratory/team

Plans to hire a postdoc:

We plan to hire 1-2 postdocs within the next 1-2 years

Research Keywords:

Biomechanics, Biotechnology, Neurophysiology, Neuroscience, Respiratory and sleep physiology

Research Description:

Our research team is dedicated to advancing neuromotor disease treatment by exploring spinal cord and brain circuits. We focus on pioneering neuromodulation techniques that specifically target spinal cord networks to enhance the quality of life for those with spinal cord injuries. Using transgenic mice and rodent models, we study neuromotor disorders like spinal cord injury and ALS, employing in vivo and in vitro electrophysiological techniques to better understand spinal cord neuronal connectivity and network communication.

Mentoring Philosophy:

As a mentor, my role is to support the members of my research team by offering guidance in experimental design and data analysis, ensuring the necessary resources for study success. I prioritize regular one-on-one meetings with team members, hold weekly or as needed, to discuss progress, troubleshoot experiments, review manuscripts, and provide ongoing guidance.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

A graduate student from my lab progressed to become a postdoctoral trainee and currently holds the position of Assistant Project Scientist. Additionally, I currently mentor two Project Scientists, Drs. Sandra Holley and Xiaofei Wei, who are actively contributing to top-tier neuroscience and physiological journals while working towards establishing independent funding. Throughout their postdoctoral training, I have also provided ongoing mentorship to three graduate students and two MD/PhD fellows, who have successfully established independently funded research labs.

EDI Statement:

I purposefully structure my research team with a commitment to fostering diverse perspectives. This commitment is reflected in various initiatives: 1) inclusion of scientists from diverse backgrounds in key roles, 2) formation of a transdisciplinary research team that encompasses diversity, 3) training and mentorship programs for students and trainees from varied backgrounds, 4) efforts to actively recruit diverse trainees, and 5) a publication strategy that ensures representation from a diverse group of participants.

David Williams

Professor, Ophthalmology, Neurobiology

All four of my current postdocs will be taking up jobs in the next 1-2 years.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Williams Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/eye/research/research-laboratories/retinal-cell-biology-2 

Plans to hire a postdoc:

During the next 2 years

Research Keywords:

Cell biology, Ophthalmic and vision science, Structural biology

Research Description:

Cell biological studies on the photoreceptor cells and the retinal pigment epithelial cells, with focus on the cytoskeleton and organelle motility, and gene therapy of inherited retinal degenerations.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Socratic approach.  Focus is on encouraging postdocs to develop their own ideas and research plan, while providing guidance and critique.  Goal is to assist postdocs to become more independent and employable, while keeping research fun.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Most postdocs have gone on to PI or equivalent positions in academia or industry.  Currently have three postdocs who are beginning to look for faculty positions.  Each has secured independent funding; two have recently been awarded NIH K99/R00 grants.

EDI Statement:

My commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion is evident in several ways. 

Historically, the personnel whom I have selected to join my laboratory have represented a diverse range of nationalities and race, with females marginally outnumbering males.  I will continue to promote diversity through the selection of personnel for my lab.  Currently, my lab members include two female postdocs, and several female undergraduates, one of whom is an under-represented minority.  

Recently, I organized a FASEB meeting on The Biology and Chemistry of Vision, and arranged a program in which women made up 50% of the session chairs and speakers.  Under-represented minorities (Hispanic, African American) were also selected as speakers in the program.  

I have been a faculty advisor in the UCLA Council of Advisors Program.  In this program, I have provided advice on promotion/tenure and grant applications to assistant professors who, in each case, were Hispanic and the first in their family to attend college.

Debora Sobreira

Assistant Professor, Biological Chemistry and Human Genetics

Participating as a Bio-launch mentor in a postdoc recruiting event is a truly enriching experience for me. First and foremost, it provides a unique platform for me to engage in mentorship, where I can guide and inspire the next generation of scientists. This role also offers invaluable networking opportunities, connecting me with promising postdoc candidates and fellow professionals in my field. Moreover, serving as a mentor allows me to give back to the scientific community, contributing to its growth and development, which is something I find deeply fulfilling. In addition to personal and professional growth, this involvement helps me identify talented individuals for my lab and also for UCLA. Furthermore, it fosters diversity and inclusion, enabling me to encourage underrepresented groups to pursue postdoc positions. Ultimately, mentoring is a rewarding endeavor, as I get to witness my mentees thrive and contribute to the advancement of scientific research.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Sobreira Lab

Lab Website:

www.sobreiralab.com

Plans to hire a postdoc:

At the moment, we are actively considering the addition of a postdoctoral researcher to our team. While we don’t have a fixed date for recruitment, we anticipate that the hiring process will commence within the next year.

Research Keywords:

Cell biology, Computational Medicine, Human Genetics, Molecular biology and cell biology, Molecular genetics and cytogenetics

Research Description:

I’m deeply committed to unraveling the complex genetic foundations of prevalent diseases. Despite advances in genetics, the relationship between genes and these conditions remains elusive. My lab, the Sobreira lab, takes a fresh approach to address this challenge. We’re developing an innovative computational and experimental framework to explore the genetic links to obesity and neurodegenerative disorders.

We employ state-of-the-art tools from data science, single-cell analysis, disease modeling, induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) techniques, to genetic screening. Our mission is to overcome the hurdles of genome-wide association studies (GWAS). We aim to identify causal variants, decode non-coding variant impacts, and reveal the regulatory pathways shaped by these variants.

Ultimately, our research aims to deepen our understanding of obesity and neurodegenerative disorders, paving the way for new therapeutic strategies. Our Variant-to-Function (V2F) framework promises to contribute significantly to scientific knowledge, shedding light on disease mechanisms and offering hope for improved treatments.

Mentoring Philosophy:

My mentoring philosophy centers around fostering a collaborative, supportive, and intellectually stimulating environment. As a mentor, I am committed to providing postdocs with the guidance and resources they need to thrive both professionally and personally. I believe in tailoring mentorship to individual goals and interests, allowing postdocs to take ownership of their projects while providing them with the necessary support and feedback. Open communication and regular one-on-one meetings are integral to our mentor-mentee relationship, ensuring that we address concerns, set clear objectives, and chart progress together. I encourage autonomy and critical thinking while promoting a spirit of teamwork and inclusivity in our research group. My aim is to help postdocs develop not only as researchers but as well-rounded professionals who are prepared for successful careers in academia or industry.

EDI Statement:

As a Latin woman immigrant in the USA, I’ve faced academic challenges due to biases and inequality. I’m determined to make my lab more inclusive for underrepresented minorities, women, and disadvantaged students. We’re actively working to attract a diverse group. In our lab, we encourage everyone to be themselves, and we have clear guidelines for behavior.

We openly discuss issues like identity, race, and mental health in our meetings, fostering a supportive community. I’m committed to mentoring Latin and underrepresented minority students, and I’m actively involved in recruiting and supporting them. We aim to change how we create a welcoming environment and mentor students for their success, recognizing that diversity is a strength.

Jack Feldman

Distinguished Research Professor, Neurobiology

I run an active well funded (mostly NIH) lab. I am currently trying to hire 3 post docs.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Systems Neurobiology

Lab Website:

https://neurobio.ucla.edu/people/jack-l-feldman-ph-d/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

3 postdoctoral position available now.

Research Keywords:

Neurobiology, Physiology, Respiratory and sleep physiology

Research Focus/Interest:

My laboratory has a long and distinguished record of making fundamental contributions to the understanding of the neural control of breathing, q.v., Gossard et al. 2011 Prog. Brain Res., Vol.187 p. vii; Vol.188 Chaps.13, 14. Many of the current working paradigms in the field originated with our work, including the landmark discovery and naming of the preBötzinger Complex (preBötC) and retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), two brainstem areas critical for the control of breathing. Localization of these neural structures has revolutionized our understanding of basic physiological processes of the brain and identified a tractable, yet vital problem at the intersection of anatomy, physiology, developmental genetics, molecular and cell biology, and theoretical and computational neuroscience. 

We have built upon our initial insight to elaborate the role of the preBötC and RTN in generating the respiratory rhythm using novel experimental preparations we developed, including a rhythmic in vitro slice for breathing and an isolated spinal cord for locomotion. Using these and other cutting-edge techniques, we assigned three critical respiratory functions to these two areas: inspiratory and expiratory rhythm generation and central chemosensation. In particular, attribution of control of expiratory movements to the RTN relied on an imaginative interpretation of an observation of quantal slowing, a unique phenomenology that led to a widely accepted model of inspiratory/expiratory coupled oscillators. The constraints provided by these discoveries enabled the application of powerful theoretical frameworks, such as oscillatory dynamical systems, to the analysis of neural circuits. 

While we have uncovered key insights into the generation of respiratory rhythm using in vitro models, we continue to complement this work with vibrant in vivo models to allow us to rigorously test and extend our observations, interpretations, and hypotheses. Realizing the need for increased specificity in localizing the preBötC, we identified several molecular markers for this region, a critical step in being able to utilize newly developed genetic tools to probe neural function. Recent molecular-genetic definition of these areas permits the elucidation of functions and dysfunctions of respiration using transgenic, optogenetic, and pharmacogenetic techniques. We have pioneered the use of a host of these in vivo techniques to the study of neural control of breathing including: viral transfection of specific phenotypes of preBötC and other respiratory neurons, e.g., those expressing the peptide somatostatin, with allatostatin or various opsins, to delineate their role in rhythmogenesis and elucidate the circuit underlying the respiratory pattern generation. Drawing from a wealth of interdisciplinary expertise in pulmonary physiology, molecular and genetic biology, our work consistently remains at the forefront of the field. Several recent papers, e.g., (1-4), significantly advance the field. Our recent work has redefined the role of inhibition in respiratory rhythmogenesis in vivo, pioneered a novel approach to mapping preBötC microcircuits using holographic photolysis, proposed a new model for rhythmogenesis based on novel experimental data in vitro, identified the peptidergic microcircuit in the preBötC and RTN/pFRG that generates and modulates sighing, and particular relevant for this center proposal, identified a projection from the preBötC to the locus coeruleus that affects emotional regulation. I have bona fide credentials in studies of neural circuits as Training Director of an NINDS Training Grant entitled TRAINING PROGRAM IN NEURAL MICROCIRCUITS at UCLA. I also trained many highly regarded researchers who continue to make important contributions to the field. Given our history in the field and the wealth of technical expertise and training, my lab is well positioned to take advantage of the ability to study respiratory-related brain areas in a behavioral context and address complex and critical questions in the neural control of breathing and the mechanisms by which breathing affects emotional regulation. As we continue to illuminate how the brain controls breathing, we will pave the way for more fundamental, clinically-relevant discoveries that change our understanding of breathing and respiratory-related diseases, including central sleep apnea, CCHS, and neurodegenerative diseases, and understanding therapeutic effects of certain breathing regimens. 

My lab is presently funded by several NIH grant awards, including an R35 Outstanding Investigatory Award.

1. Del Negro CA, Funk GD, Feldman JL. Breathing matters. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2018 Jun;19(6):351-367. PubMed PMID: 29740175; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6636643. 
2. Yackle K, Schwarz LA, Kam K, Sorokin JM, Huguenard JR, Feldman JL, Luo L, Krasnow MA. Breathing control center neurons that promote arousal in mice. Science. 2017 Mar 31;355(6332):1411- 1415. PubMed PMID: 28360327; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC5505554. 
3. Li P, Janczewski WA, Yackle K, Kam K, Pagliardini S, Krasnow MA, Feldman JL. The peptidergic control circuit for sighing. Nature. 2016 Feb 18;530(7590):293-297. PubMed PMID: 26855425; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4852886. 
4. Gray PA, Rekling JC, Bocchiaro CM, Feldman JL. Modulation of respiratory frequency by peptidergic input to rhythmogenic neurons in the preBötzinger complex. Science. 1999 Nov 19;286(5444):1566-8. PubMed PMID: 10567264; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC2811082. 

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

I have mentored 39 postdocs and 12 PhDs; in the last 10 years, 7 postdocs and 3 PhDs. Many have gone on to academic/research positions with consequential contributions to the field, including Jeffrey C. Smith (NINCDS, NIH), Christopher Del Negro (William & Mary), Greg D. Funk (UAlberta), John J. Greer (UAlberta), Consuelo Morgado (UVeracruz), Guosong Liu (MIT and Tsinghua U), Jens C. Rekling (UCopenhagen), Didier Morin (UBordeaux), Kaiwen Kam (Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science), Zoe Dong (East China Normal University), Yan Cui (Chengdu Medical College), Leanne McKay (UGlasgow), Sufyan Ashhad (TATA Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore), and several to industry, including Paul Gray (Myriad Genetic, Senior Director), David Sherman (Endengen Theraeutics, Founder and CEO), Guosong Liu (Neurocentria, Founder and CEO). Note that about half of my trainees were foreign nationals, many returning to their home countries upon completion of training. As mentioned above, I was Training Director of an NINCDS Training grant (7/07-6/18) playing a substantial active role in mentoring our trainees, as well as in extensive efforts to recruit underrepresented minorities. I have sponsored numerous undergraduate researchers in my lab: at UCLA preCOVID about 1-3 students/year.

EDI Statement:

I am committed to assuring my laboratory is diverse, equitable and inclusive.

Jason Hinman

Associate Professor, Neurology

I am seeking talented post-docs for funded projects.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Hinman Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.hinmanlabucla.org 

Research Keywords:

Neurology, Neuroscience, Vascular science

Research Description:

Translational neuroscience lab studying the molecular pathways driving the two most common neurologic disorders: stroke and dementia.

 

Jennifer Long

Associate Professor, Head and Neck Surgery

I want to identify post-doc candidates with specialized research interest

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Dr. Jennifer Long laryngeal regenerative medicine lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Yes if there is a suitable candidate

Research Keywords:

Bioengineering, Head and Neck, Surgery

Research Focus/Interest:

Develop, implant, and assess a cell-based vocal cord replacement. Techniques include construct development, microscopy, large animal surgeries, acoustic analysis, molecular analysis.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Weekly group lab meetings, otherwise I am available for questions and discussion. Post-doc will need to be independent in many activities and must take a lead role in writing.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Recent postdoc produced 2 first-authored papers, now joined a research institute in Germany

EDI Statement:

Absolutely

Jennifer Wilson

Assistant Professor, Bioengineering

We’re a new lab and are hiring and I’m just as interested in learning what postdocs want out of their PIs as the postdocs applying. I am also hiring for postdocs.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Lab for the Understanding of Network Effects

Lab Website:

https://research.seas.ucla.edu/computational-systems-pharmacology/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

I have funding to hire 1-2 postdocs in the next 1-3 years.

Research Keywords:

Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Pharmacology

Research Description:

We use pathway models to anticipate cascading drug effects with an emphasis in oncology, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric diseases.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I believe a good scientist can come from any background and mentoring is about discovering and removing roadblocks to the trainee’s success. I use weekly meetings to discuss trainee goals and help ensure the trainee is getting what they need out of the project.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

We’re a new lab so we don’t have these (yet!).

EDI Statement:

As stated above, I believe a good scientist can come from any background and as such we don’t discriminate on race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, or disability.

Jing Huang

Professor, Molecular & Medical Pharmacology

Recruiting postdocs to join my lab

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Jing Huang Lab

Lab Website:

https://bioscience.ucla.edu/people/jing-huang/ 

Research Keywords:

Biochemistry, Computational Medicine, Molecular biology and cell biology, Pharmacology, Physiology, Systems biology

Research Description:

Longevity molecules that counteract aging and extend lifespan have long been a dream of humanity. Compared to ad libitum feeding, dietary restriction (DR) consistently extends lifespan and prevents age-related diseases. We discovered that a common metabolite, alpha-ketoglutarate (a-KG), acts as a direct molecular connection between nutrient signals, mitochondrial processes, and a major aging regulator mTOR (Chin et al. Nature 2014). Endogenous molecules such as a-KG that increase longevity suggest that an internal “fountain of youth” may exist that is accessible to interventions. Subsequent studies in the area by many labs, including our own, have shown enormous hopes and possibilities for both the prevention and treatment of aging-related diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, immune dysfunction, and stem cell failure. Another major area of interest in the lab is in technology and method development. Development of effective and safe therapies is the holy grail of medicine. For small-molecule drugs, a key challenge remains the identification of the molecular targets underlying drug therapeutic effects and adverse side effects. We have developed DARTS (drug affinity responsive target stability), a simple, universally applicable target identification approach that analyzes direct drug binding to its target protein without requiring labeling or immobilization of either party (Lomenick et al. 2009). DARTS combined with mass spectrometry (DARTS-MS) can identify unknown binding targets of small molecules using any cell lysate or protein mixture, and DARTS combined with Western blotting can test or screen candidate binding targets.

M Carrie Miceli

Professor, Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Interested in recruiting talented postdoctoral fellows to train in my lab

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Miceli Lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Immediately and over the next 2 years

Research Keywords:

Bioinformatics, Cell biology, Immunology, Molecular biology and cell biology

Research Description:

The Miceli Lab is seeking postdoctoral fellows to work on a highly collaborative project to dissect individual cell and molecular pathways involved in Duchenne muscular dystrophy in skeletal muscle. All projects are in close collaboration with the Nelson Lab and benefit from access to biospecimens from patients and healthy controls. Skeletal muscle is a cellularly complex and plastic tissue that responds to local injury by recruiting and expanding immune cells, fibroblasts and other muscle resident cells to guide muscle stem cell mediated repair of damaged multinucleated myofibers. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy accounting for 80% of deaths from muscular dystrophy before the age of 30years.  The lack of dystrophin, caused by mutations in DMD, leads to chronic muscle damage, inflammation, immune infiltration, dysregulation of repair, fibro-fatty replacement, and progressive loss of muscle function. Recently, micro-dystrophin gene therapy (GT) and mRNA exon skipping has been performed on boys with DMD which aim to replace the missing dystrophin protein to correct myofiber fragility and helps to slow the disease progression. However, GT is not completely repairing the dystrophic muscle, thus we seek to better understand the multi-cellular environment within dystrophic muscle related to stem cell function, fibroblast-mediated inflammation/fibrosis, and immune activation.  To do this, we analyze dystrophic muscle including 1) whole skeletal muscle using single nuclei sequencing, 2) infiltrating/expanded immune and fibroblast cells within dystrophic muscle using single cell sequencing CITEseq analyzing TCR/BCR rearrangements, and culture-based functional analysis of primary patient derived cultures of immune, fibroblast, stem cell populations.  Postdoctoral fellows with experience in immunology cell and molecular biology, multi-omic investigation, integration of complex datasets and who are keen to apply their skills to translational science to identify novel disease biomarkers and cell and molecular targets for therapeutic intervention are highly encouraged.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Postdoctoral fellows will work on both team and individual efforts and are expected to contribute to ongoing projects as well as in development of and testing of novel research avenues.  I am generally available for individual meetings with post docs on a weekly or biweekly basis.  We will also meet weekly together with the Nelson lab as a group meeting. 

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Many of my PhD students and postdoctoral fellows have become successful faculty members and principal investigators at university research and medical centers and leaders in translational medicine and therapeutic development in Biotech and  Pharma settings.  

EDI Statement:

Miceli lab is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.  We encourage diversity and embrace individuals’ identity and strengths.

Nandita Garud

Assistant Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

I would like to recruit a postdoc for my lab.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Garud Lab

Lab Website:

Garud.eeb.ucla.edu

Plans to hire a postdoc:

I am actively looking for a postdoc to join my group within the next year.

Research Keywords:

Bioinformatics, Evolutionary Biology, Population biology

Research Description:

The Garud Lab works on understanding adaptation in natural populations with an emphasis on the human gut microbiome. We develop statistical approaches to uncover population genetic processes occurring in Drosophila, microbiomes, and other natural populations.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I work with members of my lab to develop a project that is mutually exciting and meet with members of my lab at least 1x/week to develop their projects. I actively engage in the writing and analysis and enjoy learning from lab members their insights while also providing my own.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

We had 1 postdoc in the lab, who has now moved onto another postdoctoral position.

EDI Statement:

My lab is committed to EDI — we are a diverse group consisting of individuals that identify with a range of genders, sexual orientations, and come from different parts of the world. We welcome individuals of any background in our group and work hard to make sure all voices are heard and validated — either at lab meetings, 1:1 meetings, and any other occasion inside and outside the lab.

Olujimi Ajijola

Associate Professor of Medicine

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Ajijola Lab

Lab Website:

https://ajijolalab.dgsom.ucla.edu/ 

Research Keywords:

Cardiac physiology, Neurobiology, Neuroscience

Research Description:

We study the peripheral neural circuits that control cardiac electrophysiologic function in health and disease. Our studies utilize cutting edge tools to probe autonomic neurons involved in regulating the heart (e.g., optogenetics, chemogenetics, viral tracing, fiber photometry), while performing high-resolution cardiac electrical mapping and cardiovascular phenotyping in small and large animal models of cardiovascular disease (myocardial infarction, nonischemic cardiomyopathy and pacing-induced cardiomyopathy).  

Our lab is part of the UCLA Cardiac Arrhythmia Center & the UCLA Neurocardiology Program of Excellence. 

Patrick Allard

Professor, Molecular Biology Institute / Institute for Society & Genetics

I would like to recruit and mentor someone to become part of our dynamic team.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Allard laboratory

Lab Website:

Theallardlabatucla.org

Plans to hire a postdoc:

We would like to hire a post-doc within the next 6 months

Research Keywords:

Bioinformatics, Biology, Human Genetics, Molecular biology and cell biology, Molecular toxicology, Toxicology

Research Description:

Can environmental exposures early on in life affect our health years later? Can our health be also determined by what our ancestors were exposed to? Those are some of the fundamental questions that our laboratory aims to answer by developing and using state-of-the-art integrative methods.

​Our work, in particular, aims to dissect the genetic and epigenetic pathways that connect environmental cues to health effects across the lifespan and across generations. We leverage the genetic tractability of various models, including ES-cell based models, to examine the impact of environmental chemical exposures on the epigenome.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Our approach to mentoring follows 4 pillars:

1. Equity is always at the center
2. Constructivism: knowledge is co-constructed with trainees, not passively transferred.
3. Reverse design: Ph.D. experience tailored to career goals
4. Knowledge and skills go hand-in-hand: Articulation of learning objectives around both knowledge and skills that students should have by the time they leave our program.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Post-docs have found jobs in academia, industry, and government

EDI Statement:

We foster an inclusive and  equitable environments for trainees in our lab by focusing on the creation of a tailored development plan that includes life and career goals, imposter syndrome, and other important topics central to the feeling of belonging. Dr. Allard has an extensive track record of service on diversity-related matters at UCLA and the Society of Toxicology among others. Dr. Allard co-directed a NIEHS-funded research program for URM undergraduate students that produced many PhD students.

Paul Mathews

Associate Professor, Neurology

Seeking post-doc for new grant

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Mathews Lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Immediate position available

Research Keywords:

Anatomy, Neurology, Neuroscience, Physiology

Research Description:

Dr. Mathews’ research program seeks to understand how neural communication between brain regions, in particular the cerebellum and forebrain gives rise to complex animal behavior. Our current research goals are to 1) define region-specific connectivity between the cerebellum and forebrain, 2) elucidate the neural influence the cerebellum has on downstream forebrain structures (e.g. basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex), and 3) to elucidate the neural information provided by the cerebellum to the forebrain in non-motor behaviors (e.g. reversal learning). The lab currently incorporates a multifaceted set of approaches to answer these questions including in vivo multi-electrode recordings, functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), function Ulrasound (fUS), and animal behavioral testing and anatomy. Furthermore, we are complementing these approaches with both directed (e.g. DREADD or optogenetic manipulation) and/or disease related (e.g. mouse models of autism) disruptions in cerebellar-forebrain communication to significantly advance our understanding of cerebellar-forebrain communication and its role in non-motor behavior. 

A second major component of our research program is to understand and devise potential treatments for the disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T). To do so, we have recently created a new mouse model of A-T that for the first time displays the phenotypical loss of motor control and contains a human related genetic mutation (i.e. nonsense mutation). With this new model we are elucidating the neuropathogenesis of the disease and testing a new small molecule therapeutic designed to read-through premature termination codons. In collaboration with others here at the Lundquist Intistute, we are further testing and developing the therapeutic potential of these small molecule read-through (SMRT) compounds along with combinatorial approaches to restore protein production in an array diseases caused by a premature stop codons.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Mentees will receive an open environment with which to explore topics being examined in my lab. I have an open door policy for my small group.

EDI Statement:

We are committed to fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion within our research group. We believe in creating a workplace that values and celebrates the unique perspectives, backgrounds, and talents of every individual, ensuring a culture of fairness, respect, and equal opportunities for all.

Philip Scumpia

Associate Professor, Medicine/Dermatology

I am a mid-career investigator looking to train talented, highly motivated scientists work towards their development into independent faculty. Despite being one of the largest organs, the pool of scientists working in skin biology is small, and has been decreasing in the past 10 years. My laboratory has several exciting projects focusing on how the immune system contributes to skin disease, including cancer immunology, cutaneous wound healing/regeneration, and inflammatory dermatitis (eczema/psoriasis). My goal is to provide an environment to support both career development and scientific growth into immunology and/or skin biology to help foster the development of the next generation of investigators in skin biology.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Scumpia Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/medicine/dermatology/research/philip-scumpia-lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Interested in hiring a postdoc as soon as possible

Research Keywords:

Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Immunology, Molecular biology and cell biology, Systems biology

Research Description:

Using systems biology approaches to understand how the immune system controls or contributes to skin disease. In particular, we study immune factors that lead to host defense during skin infection, wounding, or cancer, or dysfunctional immunity in inflammatory dermatitis. We also develop novel therapeutics to combat these diseases.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I provide both research guidance and individual career mentorship. The goal is to provide an indivualized environment for each trainee, depending on the level of supervision the trainee requires.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

No previous post docs.

EDI Statement:

I take every opportunity to foster a diverse and inclusive research environment. As a physician scientist, my goal is to mentor outstanding scientists, clinicians, and physician scientists regardless of background.

Roxana Radu

Associate Professor, Ophthalmology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Roxana Radu’s Laboratory

Lab Website:

https://www.uclahealth.org/eye/retina-biochemistry-clinical-disease-modeling-laboratory

Plans to hire a postdoc:

I am interested to hire a new postdoctoral fellow in the next 6-12 months.

Research Keywords:

Biochemistry ,Human Genetics, Molecular biology and cell biology, Ophthalmic and vision science, Systems biology

Research Description:

Radu’s lab scientific focus is to understand the pathogenic roles of vitamin A dimers (bisretinoids) that cause retinal degenerations and permanent loss of sight. Dr. Radu established a translational research program that aims to address urgent unmet needs for experimental models of macular degenerations for which no therapies are currently available. Radu’s team uses genetic, biochemical, cellular, and molecular advances to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of photoreceptors loss in recessive Stargardt disease (STGD1) and age-dependent macular degeneration (AMD). They explore the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) as a cell-autonomous driver of pathology with an emphasis on retinaldehyde toxicity. Radu’s group developed novel mouse and human iPSC-derived RPE cell-based disease models to identify fundamental biological processes at the intersection between the complement system, retinoid-lipid metabolism, mitochondria, and endolysosomal pathways under normal and immune-compromised status. Collaborators, both at UCLA and other institutions, complement Radu’s lab expertise to expand to omics, mitochondria, and single-cell RNA sequencing analyses.

Mentoring Philosophy:

My research advancement is intimately connected to my innate drive to instill scientific knowledge and acquired technology to our trainees at different stage of their career. I completed The Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) Faculty Mentoring Training Workshop at UCLA to advance my mentoring skills and better assist my mentees to incorporate theoretically-grounded, evidence-based, and culturally-responsive training interventions and investigations. I strongly believe in encouraging trainees’ interests and helping them solidify their self-motivation and independence in learning, regardless of their educational upbringing or baseline knowledge. I welcome everyone to discuss with me on daily basis their challenges or successes, in addition to our weekly scheduled one-on-one get-togethers and group working-in-progress meetings.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Positions in academic and biotech institutions

EDI Statement:

As a mentor, I strive to provide people in my group with unique experiences using cutting-edge research settings in my lab & UCLA campus while promoting diversity and equity, critically needed to sustain our healthy work environment. The harmony in my laboratory is driven by our diverse cultural and educational background that provides a safe and enjoyable workplace. In our weekly lab gathering and during one-on-one meetings, aside of the specific scientific topic, I praised their efforts and potential to help others improve their views about our diversity, equity, and inclusion values. Importantly, I encourage everyone to speak up and listen intentionally to observations and critiques with openness and consideration. This is my inspirational quote to lead my group: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much”, by Helen Keller.

S Thomas Carmichael

Professor, Neurology

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Carmichael Lab

Lab Website:

https://www.stcarmichaellab.com/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

This year or next year.

Research Keywords:

Molecular biology and cell biology, Neurobiology, Neurology, Neuroscience

Research Description:

The goal of the Carmichael Laboratory is to identify the mechanisms of recovery after stroke. We study the cells and molecules that begin to repair the brain after stroke, and how these are limited or incomplete. We focus on molecular mechanisms of neural repair that might provide for new therapies to promote recovery in stroke. By combining molecular, genetic, cellular and behavioral studies into a systems biology approach to neural repair after stroke, we hope to develop new molecular therapies for stroke recovery.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Close personal interactions and feedback that occur at least weekly. Informal interactions with frequent time and conversations shared in the lab as a matter of regular lab interactions, and regular meetings that are updates, data review and planning. Yearly discussions about overall experiences in the lab and in the post-doc, career planning.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Many faculty with academic and industry positions.

EDI Statement:

I am committed to a diverse training environment and have a track record of diversity in my trainees and developing programs to foster diversity in the lab, the field and in my department.

Sonal Srikanth

Adjunct Associate Professor, Physiology

Recruitment of motivated post doc

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Gwack and Srikanth Labs

Lab Website:

https://medschool.ucla.edu/people/sonal-srikanth-phd

https://medschool.ucla.edu/people/yousang-gwack-phd 

Research Keywords:

Biochemistry, Cell biology, Immunology, Physiology, Virology

Research Description:

The Gwack and Srikanth labs in the Department of Physiology at UCLA are seeking to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow immediately with prior training in molecular biology and immunology, including experience in working with small animals. Our laboratory has made significant contributions to the field of store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) entry in immune cells, including identification of the components of the SOC channels, characterization of their biochemical and functional properties using biochemical (protein purification), biophysical (whole cell patch-clamp recordings), imaging (advanced confocal and TIRF) and genetic (knockout animals) tools. Further, recently we have identified novel functions of SOC channel components in innate immune cells in cellular nucleic acid sensing pathways. Our research utilizes molecular, cellular and organismal studies using primary human and murine immune cells and knockout mice. 

The ideal candidate will be a recent Ph.D. graduate, with a strong background in life science research exemplified in publications. The trainee will learn cutting edge molecular biology, cell biology and high-resolution imaging techniques, including high throughput screens, genome editing, advanced confocal/TIRF microscopy, analysis of knock out cells/mice, as well as in vivo experiments with animal models of multiple sclerosis or pathogen infections. Applicants should be highly motivated and passionate about research, possess strong work ethics, and willing to work in a highly collaborative environment. 

Stanley Nelson

Professor, Human Genetics

I am interested to recruit talented postdoctoral fellows to my laboratory to work on collaborative projects using single cell omics to dissect dystrophic skeletal muscle disease state and identify therapeutic targets and biomarkers of disease to improve gene therapy/gene repair.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Stanley Nelson Lab, Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Plans to hire a postdoc:

There is space for two post doctoral scholars in the group with start dates possible in Spring/SUmmer 2024

Research Keywords:

Bioinformatics, Clinical research, Human Genetics, Molecular biology and cell biology

Research Description:

The Nelson Lab is seeking postdoctoral fellows to work on a highly collaborative project to dissect individual cell and molecular pathways involved in Duchenne muscular dystrophy in skeletal muscle.  All projects are in close collaboration with the Miceli Lab and benefit from access to biospecimens from patients and healthy controls. Skeletal muscle is a cellularly complex and plastic tissue that responds to local injury by recruiting and expanding immune cells, fibroblasts and other muscle resident cells to guide muscle stem cell mediated repair of damaged multinucleated myofibers. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy accounting for 80% of deaths from muscular dystrophy before the age of 30years.  The lack of dystrophin, caused by mutations in DMD, leads to chronic muscle damage, inflammation, immune infiltration, dysregulation of repair, fibro-fatty replacement, and progressive loss of muscle function. Recently, micro-dystrophin gene therapy (GT) and mRNA exon skipping has been performed on boys with DMD which aim to replace the missing dystrophin protein to correct myofiber fragility and helps to slow the disease progression. However, GT is not completely repairing the dystrophic muscle, thus we seek to better understand the multi-cellular environment within dystrophic muscle related to stem cell function, fibroblast-mediated inflammation/fibrosis, and immune activation.  To do this, we analyze dystrophic muscle including 1) whole skeletal muscle using single nuclei sequencing, 2) infiltrating/expanded immune and fibroblast cells within dystrophic muscle using single cell and analyzing TCR/BCR rearrangements, and 3) culture-based analysis of primary patient derived cultures of immune, fibroblast, stem cell populations.  Postdoctoral fellows with experience in multi-omic investigation, integration of complex datasets, immunology, and cell biology backgrounds who are keen to apply their skills to translational science and identify novel disease biomarkers and targets for therapeutic intervention are highly encouraged.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I generally allow a high degree of autonomy to postdoctoral fellows. We are creating a vast dataset with many potentially impactful types of queries, and I desire fellows who can work independently and also work well in a small group team of about 10 people.  Weekly lab meetings and weekly individual meetings are the primary means of communication, but I am available at all times to discuss ideas and project.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

I have trained 37 postdoctoral fellows who have become successful academic researchers (UCDAVIS, UCLA, UMich, Upenn) and several who now work in genomics-related industries such as PacBio/Illumina.

EDI Statement:

I am committed to improving our workforce diversity, and actively encourage applications to my lab from all individuals. My laboratory’s work environment allows flexibility for the completion of tasks.

Su Yon Jung

Associate Professor, Translational Sciences Section, School of Nursing; Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health

Happy to be a research mentor for matched ones (Phd students or postdocs)

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Molecular genetic and epigenetic study on metabolic, inflammatory diseases and cancers

Plans to hire a postdoc:

At any time if grants funded

Research Keywords:

Behavioral Health, Biostatistics, Clinical research, Computational Medicine, Epidemiology, Human Genetics, Molecular pathology, Nursing, Pathology, Population biology

Research Description:

1. Molecular biomarkers, particularly focusing on glucose tolerance, immune response, and inflammation.
2. Cancer genomics and epigenomics, examining the effect of interactions with lifestyle factors
3. Cancer health disparities, addressing the current dearth of genetic and epigenetic research in medically and scientifically underrepresented populations
4. Epidemiologic study design, data quality assurance, and machine-learning approaches for a big data; genomic/epigenetic statistics, pathway-based association, and gene-environment interaction to disentangle the complicated molecular pathways of cancer.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Research and career development mentoring

EDI Statement:

As a molecular genetic epidemiologist, I have extensively focused on vulnerable as well as minority populations for my cancer research.

Tikvah Hayes

Assistant Professor, Molecular and Medical Pharmacology

Meeting potential postdoc candidates

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Hayes Lab

Plans to hire a postdoc:

1-2 yr

Research Keywords:

Biology, Cell biology, Molecular biology and cell biology, Pharmacology

Research Description:

Dr. Tiki Hayes’s research program broadly focuses on basic and pre-clinical mechanisms surrounding oncogene dependency, signal transduction, and therapeutic strategies. Identifying and understanding of variants of unknown significance (VUS) and development of resistance to targeted therapies represent two significant challenges facing current cancer care. Dr. Hayes is particularly interested in 1) interrogating oncogenic dependency and signal transduction networks, 2) assessing mechanisms driving therapeutic sensitivity/resistance, and 3) characterizing somatic variants of unknown significance. She addresses these questions using a combination of high-throughput genetic screening and molecular biology and pharmacology.

Mentoring Philosophy:

My teaching and mentoring philosophies have been molded by my own experiences and those of others. I believe that 1) no universal method exists for effective teaching/mentoring; trainees learn differently, which means instructors need to engage multiple methods of relaying information, 2) learning should be intellectually stimulating, engaging, and exciting at all levels of education, 3) trainees should be encouraged to take ownership over their ideas and projects, 4) instructors should be open and adaptable, expecting to learn from trainees, and 5) instructors should be resources supporting and helping trainees reach their goals. These five pillars define the kind of mentor I strive to be.

EDI Statement:

In my own laboratory, I plan to create an environment that is inclusive, diverse, productive, and successful, where research assistants, students and postdoctoral fellows can thrive. I want my trainees to feel supported in their efforts to learn and conduct research, creating an atmosphere where trainees often seek internal collaborations and help from their colleagues. I will hold regular individual meetings to discuss career goals, work-life balance, scientific progress, and the broader implications of their work. In our group meetings, we will have traditional data presentations and journal clubs, plus instructional discussions regarding new concepts and methodological approaches. I will act as a resource for my team, helping each trainee achieve both their individual and professional goals. In essence, I want my own laboratory to be a scientific team.

Yazhen Zhu

Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

https://www.uclahealth.org/departments/pathology/yazhen-zhu-md-phd 

We have several new NIH fundings arrived, we would like to hire 2-3 postdocs in the near future.

Lab or Research Group Name: 

UCLA Liquid Biopsy Laboratory

Lab Website:

https://uclaliquidbiopsy.org/

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Ongoing hiring, 2-3 postdocs

Research Keywords:

Biomechanical engineering, Biotechnology, Molecular pathology

Research Description:

I am currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine in David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Since I joined UCLA Medical School in 2015, I have been working to develop liquid biopsy-based technologies for implementation of non-invasive diagnosis in the fields of cancer and maternal-fetal medicine. I also serve as the co-director of the UCLA Liquid Biopsy Laboratory, where Dr. Tseng and I jointly oversee the liquid biopsy research projects. With the continuous support from NIH/NCI, my goal is to facilitate the clinical translation and validation of the diagnostic platforms developed in our lab. This will enable us to investigate the unique potential of liquid biopsy markers for the early detection of cancer.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Cutting-edge technology development, innovative project design, NIH grant writing, multidisciplinary learning environment in our liquid biopsy lab.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

Past postdoc trainees now are physicians and professors.

EDI Statement:

I have been committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion in research, teaching, and advising as a female scientist. As an assistant professor at UCLA, I mentored female postdocs and female undergraduate and high school students who volunteer in our lab to study science. I tried my best to inspire these female students and to help ignite their interest in science. Several of these students have been co-authors in our published papers. I worked so hard to explore their talents in art and science. Three of our most recent papers were highlighted as the journal covers, and the cover art was designed and drew by female high school students. In addition, I also mentored female postdoc researchers during the past several years and published several papers with them.

As a scientist who works on translational research and biomarker development, I serve as a co-investigator in the project “Measuring placental stress to understand the link between negative socio-cultural experiences and adverse birth outcomes in Latina women”. Latino Americans are an underserved community facing unique and severe cultural and socio-economic stressors, such as discrimination and poverty, which contribute to health disparities. Latino Americans experience disproportionately high rates of adverse birth outcomes, problematic for both women’s health and child development. We posit pregnant people’s experiences of socio-cultural and economic stress may induce psychological and physiological changes, perturbating maternal-placental-fetal biology and ultimately promoting adverse birth outcomes. Specifically, we predict that socio-cultural stressors lead to disturbance in the placental epithelium that releases extracellular vesicles (EVs), which we propose as a novel biomarker of maternal-placental-fetal stress. Results may reveal opportunities for early identification of at-risk individuals and intervention strategies to mitigate the perpetuation of poor health across generations in minority communities.

In the future, I would like to work with the campus community to commit to equity, diversity, and inclusion. I intend to continue to mentor students from underrepresented groups. I would also work hard to make progress on the research projects focusing on underrepresented pregnant people.

Yi Yin

Assistant Professor, Human Genetics

Hiring postdoc(2) interested in single-cell sequencing technology development, computational biology, and/or widely-interested in genome instability and cancer genomics

Lab or Research Group Name: 

Yin Lab

Lab Website:

https://recombination.dev

Plans to hire a postdoc:

Multiple postdoc positions available immediately.

Research Keywords:

Bioinformatics, Biotechnology, Human Genetics, Molecular biology and cell biology, Molecular genetics and cytogenetics, Systems biology

Research Description:

Our lab works on single-cell sequencing technology development, as well as relevant computational biology method development. We also apply the state-of-the-art sequencing methods to study genome instability. We aim to address fundamental questions in chromosome biology and tumorigenesis in various organisms across the tree-of-life.

Mentoring Philosophy:

Very hands-on mentoring style, but postdocs own and lead their projects.

Postdoc Trainee Outcomes:

One postdoc trainee currently in the lab (Nov. 2020 – present)

EDI Statement:

The pursuit of scientific knowledge can be a tremendously fun and exciting endeavor. I steadfastly believe that no individual should be limited in their ability to pursue scientific questions due to discrimination or inappropriate behavior in the lab. I unequivocally strive to ensure that my lab will provide an open and welcoming environment for all students and trainees. I try my very best to ensure that all lab members feel safe and respected.

Yirong Peng

Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology

Hiring postdoctoral fellows

Lab or Research Group Name: 

PengYR lab at UCLA

Lab Website:

www.yirongpeng.com

Plans to hire a postdoc:

1-2 postdocs within 1-2 years.

Research Keywords:

Bioinformatics, Evolutionary Biology, Molecular biology and cell biology, Neuroscience, Ophthalmic and vision science

Research Description:

Deciphering the molecular complexities of neural circuity assembly remains a paramount quest in neuroscience. Despite substantial progresses have been made through studying conserved circuitry in model organisms–shedding insight on the human nervous system–there is still a frontier to be crossed in understanding the genetic pathways shaping human-specific neural structures. This knowledge is crucial for grasping the essence of cognitive behaviors and identifying the roots of neurological disorders and degenerative neural diseases. Our research aims to elucidate the cellular and molecular underpinnings of how neural structures have evolved functionally in humans. My lab pivots on the visual system as humans are visual animals. We use high-throughput genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic tools, to decode the genetic programs that specify neuronal types and uncover the molecular underpinnings of the circuit formation and degeneration in the visual system.

Mentoring Philosophy:

I am committed to the academic growth and success of postdoctoral fellows. At the outset of their training, I ensure that their academic and career goals are aligned with the research project and training duration. In my lab, I hold weekly one-on-one meetings with postdocs to discuss their research progress and any challenges they face. I also encourage postdocs to attend conference to broaden their networks and foster collaborations, which are essential for enhancing their research portfolio.

EDI Statement:

Drawing upon my background as both a female scientist and an immigrant to the United States, I have cultivated a profound awareness and commitment to addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion. My personal experiences have underscored the vital importance of advocating for women and underrepresented groups within the scientific community. During my tenure as a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard University, I actively participated in Harvard’s Graduate Women in Science and Engineering (HGWISE) program, serving as a mentor for over five years. In this role, I held monthly meetings with my mentees, providing a nurturing space to discuss their professional challenges. I offered advice on setting academic objectives, strategies for career advancement, and shared my own journey and resources to help them carve out their unique paths in science.

Transitioning to my current role as a lab leader at UCLA, my dedication to championing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the scientific community remains a top priority. I am committed to recruiting students and postdocs from underrepresented minority groups, with the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive laboratory environment. I extend my efforts beyond recruitment to focus on the scientific and career development of these individuals. This includes actively seeking funding opportunities to support students from underrepresented groups and low-income family, and encouraging their participation in conferences and networking events to expand their horizons and establish valuable professional connections. 

Furthermore, as a new mother, I have become acutely aware of the unique barriers and challenges that young female scientists face in balancing academic achievement with personal life. I ensure that postdocs in my lab who are navigating childbearing and childcare have the necessary support, fostering an environment conducive to their continuous academic development.

In sum, my journey has ingrained in me a streadfast dedication to promotion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the scientific community. Through a combination of mentoring, thoughtful recruitment, and targeted support, I am actively working to dismantle barriers and cultivate an environment where all scientists have the opportunity to succeed.