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The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Postdoctoral Fellow Position

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Newark, New Jersey, us, 07175


Job Title: Postdoctoral Fellow Position

Job Number:

85812

Location:

Newark, NJ,US

Job Description

Postdoctoral Fellow Position(s) in the Pan lab at Department of Anesthesiology and Brain Health Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

The Pan lab has opened applications for one or two postdoctoral fellow(s) in Department of Anesthesiology and Brain Health Institute, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. The laboratory studies the mechanisms and functions of mu opioid receptors and develops novel pain-relief drugs that are potent against a spectrum of pain models without many side-effects associated with traditional opiates. Our research utilizes state-of-the-art molecular, biochemical, chemical, pharmacological and behavioral approaches. The laboratory will provide a wealth of molecular, biochemical and pharmacological expertise to facilitate both your research and career development. We are seeking highly motivated candidates with experience in animal behavior/surgery, molecular biology, biochemistry, or pharmacology. The postdoc’s research project can be one or more of the following three areas.

1.

The first project is to investigate molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the actions of mu opioids via alternatively spliced variants or isoforms of the mu opioid receptor gene, Oprm1. These basic research studies have provided the foundation for identifying novel therapeutic targets. For example, identification and characterization of Oprm1 variants with 6 transmembrane domains (6TM) have led us to develop a new analgesic drug whose actions are mediated through the 6TM variants. This drug is potent in analgesia without many side-effects associated with traditional mu opiates in preclinical models and currently is under clinical phase I trial. We have also found that the Oprm1 exon 7-associated variants mediate several adverse effects of mu opioids, such as tolerance, reward, and respiratory depression, which allows us to develop novel therapeutic strategies for diminishing these side effects without altering mu opioid analgesia.

2.

The second project is to identify novel targets that are responsible for producing mu opioid-induced tolerance, reward, and respiratory depression by using unbiased transcriptomic and TMT-phosphoproteomics approaches.

3.

The third project is to investigate molecular mechanisms and functions underlying the role of Fat mass and obesity-associated protein (FTO) in mu opioid actions. FTO has emerged as an important molecular player in various neuronal functions and neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as involvement with mu opioid actions.

Our research utilizes state-of-the-art molecular, biochemical, chemical, pharmacological and behavioral approaches. The positions are fully funded by our grants from NIH and Rutgers. Salary will be commensurate with the candidate’s qualifications and institutional guidelines.

If interested, please email Ying-Xian Pan ([Please click the Apply button for the link or email]) with your CV and the names of three references.

Application Deadline:

2024-12-31

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