Research Postdoctoral Fellow- Khandros Lab

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A Brief Overview
Under the direction/guidance of a mentor (principal investigator), assumes responsibility for a specific, on-going research project. The experience will serve to extend, refine and enhance skills necessary for professional and career development, and will enable the individual to broaden his/her scientific background by acquiring new research capabilities. It is expected that this individual will conduct independent scholarly research, and will contribute directly to the overall research goals of the project and the research group.

This role will be expected to participate in project planning, recording and interpretation/evaluation of data, and communication of results. This position will also be expected to acquire technical, lab management, and manuscript/grant writing skills; and participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentations at national meetings. This role also may be required to supervise junior lab members, develop new methods and protocols for research, and assist with the development of other research projects in the lab.

About the Laboratory

The Khandros lab is looking for a postdoctoral researcher to join our team in the Division of Hematology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. I am a physician scientist with a clinical focus on red blood cell disorders such as sickle cell disease and thalassemia. These diseases cause a significant amount of death and suffering in some of the lowest resource communities worldwide. Our research focus is on the mechanisms of hemoglobin gene regulation and red blood cell development, as well as developing novel therapeutics for these diseases. Our work involves a multi-disciplinary approach across the fields of developmental biology, molecular biology, and epigenetics, and we utilize cutting-edge multi-omics techniques, CRISPR screening, mouse disease models, and patient cell-based studies.

One of the primary areas of study in the lab is re-activation of fetal hemoglobin in adult red blood cells, which is the key therapeutic approach in sickle cell disease. There are several projects focused on this area:

We have used CRISPR screening to identify several nucleosome remodeler complexes as potential activators of fetal hemoglobin gene transcription and are now carrying out follow-up mechanistic studies in primary cell cultures and in mouse models. Fetal hemoglobin can be turned on in adults only in a specific subset of cells called F-cells. We're using cell sorting approaches combined with epigenetic analysis such as ATAC-seq, and chromatin conformation capture, as well as single-cell approaches to characterize why this subset of cells is able to reactivate fetal hemoglobin. We are developing new CRISPR screening approaches in primary erythroid cells to identify new therapeutic targets for sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.

My lab is part of a larger research group with the epigenetics laboratory of Dr. Gerd Blobel at CHOP. The Division of Hematology provides an outstanding scientific and training environment. There will be many opportunities to participate in exciting cutting-edge science in our projects, collaborations and overall scientific environment at Penn/CHOP.

Expertise in molecular biology, epigenetics, or computational biology would be welcome, but not required.

What you will do

• Conduct independent scholarly research and develop new methods and protocols
• Participate in project planning, recording and evaluation of data
• Acquire technical, lab management and grant writing skills
• Participate in seminars, lectures, poster sessions and presentation at national meetings
• Supervise junior lab members
• Assist with other research projects

Education Qualifications

• Doctorate Required

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to wear a respirator device

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SALARY RANGE:

Salary ranges are shown for full-time jobs. If you're working part-time, your pay will be adjusted accordingly.

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