The focus of the Kapahi Laboratory is to identify and characterize the mechanisms by which nutrients modulate lifespan and metabolism. The overall all goal is to identify genetic pathways and pharmacological targets that mediate effects on lifespan and age-related disease phenotypes. This is being achieved by using an interdisciplinary approach combining genetic, biochemical and genomic techniques in invertebrate model systems D. melanogaster, C. elegans, and mammalian cells. In particular the lab is following their discoveries that TOR pathway, fat metabolism, modulation of mRNA translation, mitochondrial function and ER stress, modulate lifespan. The broader significance of this research is to help uncover the role of nutrition in the etiology of age-related human diseases like diabetes, obesity, cancer and neurodegeneration. The lab is also developing models of age-related diseases and host microbiome interactions using invertebrate and cell culture model systems. The candidate will receive training in specific area(s) of research with the aim of progressing towards an independent career. For more questions regarding this position please e mail Pkapahi@buckinstitute.org or visit https://www.buckinstitute.org/kapahiLab
The Buck Institute for Age Research is a non-profit biomedical research institute in Novato, located 20 miles north of San Francisco & Berkeley. The Buck Institute is the only independent institute in the U.S. devoted solely to research on aging and age-related diseases. Our mission is to increase the healthspan, the healthy years of life. Awarded a federal grant to establish interdisciplinary research in a new field called Geroscience, Buck scientists work in a unique, collaborative environment that allows scientists to initiate studies quickly and respond to new opportunities in fields such as stem cell research and regenerative medicine. The Buck Institute has excellent in-house proteomic, genomic and microscopy facilities. Our scientists represent a variety of complementary fields, including genetics, epigenetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioenergetics, age-associated disease; and technological disciplines such as genomics, proteomics, protein interaction networks and bio-informatics. The Buck Institute has an excellent postdoctoral research program. There are currently 200 employees, and plans to grow to 550 over the next decade. We offer competitive salaries, excellent benefits, dynamic work environment, and new state-of-the-art facilities. For more information www.buckinstitute.org