A new lab in the department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University is inviting applications for a postdoctoral position to study the molecular regulation of pluripotent stem cells in the flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea. Although phylogenetically flatworms are very different from nematodes, the premiss of studying fundamental biological processes in an in vivo system is shared between these two systems, and in fact many planarian researchers have a background in C. elegans biology.
Our lab focusses on the dynamics and regulation of pluripotent stem cells using the freshwater flatworm Schmidtea mediterranea as a model. Schmidtea mediterranea has the ability to regenerate any part of its body including its entire brain, due to the presence of a large population of adult stem cells called neoblasts. We have for the first time analyzed heterogeneity in this stem cell population using single cell analysis. This has demonstrated the presence of specialized as well as pluripotent stem cells. We are interested in the molecular processes involved in the maintenance of pluripotency in vivo, and in the transition towards differentiation. Several lines of evidence have suggested an important role for non-coding RNAs (piRNAs and lncRNAs) in these processes, and the planarian stem cell system is an excellent model to explore this further.
We are looking for a highly motivated molecular biologist with an interest in stem cell research and an inclination for technological development. Candidates must have recently obtained a Ph.D. in a relevant field and should have experience with nucleic acid biochemistry. Excellent oral and written communication skills are also required. Experience with next-gen sequencing, immunoprecipitation methods, flow cytometry, confocal imaging, and computational analysis are desirable.
To apply, please send a CV and a cover letter explaining your experience and your motivation to josien.van.wolfswinkel@yale.edu.
For more information, please visit www.vanwolfswinkellab.org