Research Positions – Ophthalmology & Neuroscience

The Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, seeks Research Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows, and Research Scientists to conduct research in the laboratory of Dr. Wenbo Zhang.

The lab focuses on the following research areas:

• Mechanisms of retinal neuronal and vascular injury, and pathological angiogenesis in retinal diseases such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinopathy of prematurity.
• Investigation of mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, and the development of novel biomarkers using the retina-brain axis as a model.
• Understanding the role of epigenetics in corneal inflammation, neovascularization, and wound healing following chemical injury.

We employ cutting-edge technologies such as 10x Genomics single-cell RNA-seq, HD spatial profiling, proteomics, conditional knockout/knockin mice, in vivo and in vitro disease models, and 3D cell printing. Our studies utilize advanced, non-invasive clinical imaging and functional tests (e.g., OCT, OCT-Angiography, retinal blood flow measurement, ERG/PERG, corneal confocal microscopy), along with histology, molecular biology, cell biology, and live-cell confocal microscopy. Our work has been published in high-impact journals such as Molecular Therapy, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Science Advances, Circulation Research, Cell Death & Disease, Acta Neuropathologica Communications, and IOVS.

Job Duties:

• Research Associate: Maintain, breed, and genotype mouse colonies; receive and organize reagents and supplies; prepare lab reagents; assist lab members and the Principal Investigator with experiments; support lab paperwork and inspections.
• Postdoctoral Fellow and Research Scientist: Applicants should be highly motivated, enjoy teamwork, and have a strong interest in at least one of the following areas: retinal diseases, cell and molecular biology, organoid culture, 3D cell printing, single-cell RNA-seq, spatial profiling and omics, angiogenesis, neurodegenerative diseases, immunology, and pathology. These are key roles responsible for planning and executing experiments in close collaboration with the Principal Investigator.

Please send your C.V. and contact information for three references to: Wenbo Zhang, Ph.D., Professor, Edwin and Rebecca Gale Endowed Distinguished Chair in Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, E-mail: we2zhang@UTMB.edu.