"Groundbreaking approaches to understanding immune/brain functions and developing new therapies"

Available immediately for highly motivated recent PHDs and/or MDs with strong training in any of the following disciplines: AI/ML, biochemistry, bioinformatics, immunology, neuroscience, molecular and cell biology, virology, medicinal chemistry or chemical biology to participate in any of the following projects involving multidisciplinary teams of translational and basic science investigators: (a) innovative single-cell multiome and MERFISH studies to generate cellular part list for human and nonhuman primates brain regions illuminating novel insights into transcriptomic, epigenetic, and spatial landscapes of CNS and how their functions are altered by infection or disease states; (b) AI-Powered target discovery and vulnerability prediction deploying machine learning and AI approaches to integrate multi-modal data for therapeutic target identification and disease vulnerability prediction; (c) investigate RNA biology mechanisms in immune functions and changes by RNA viruses and cancer; (d) develop and employ human stem cell derived 3D organoids and stem cell based disease models; (e) structure-based design and synthesis of new drug candidates and targeted protein degradation moieties. Technologies employed in our projects include iPSCs generation and differentiation, human brain and lung organoid models, AI/ML applications in genomics and drug design, CRISPR, RNAi, RNA and genes delivery, scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, MERFISH multimodel spatial studies, bioinformatics, in vitro and in vivo models, computational drug design and synthesis, and biochemical kinetics assays to analyze drug activities. Strong publication record and training to perform independent research are required for further consideration. For examples of our multidisciplinary research program and technologies used in our work, see https://ranalab.ucsd.edu and Rana Lab Publications. Successful Candidates will be part of a stimulating and collaborative scientific environment with cutting-edge instrumentation and facilities. Applicants should send CV and names and addresses of three references to ranaoffice@ucsd.edu: Administrative Coordinator, Rana Laboratory, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.