Postdoctoral position in systems biology of aging

A postdoctoral position is available immediately in the laboratory of Olivier Cinquin at UC Irvine, to dissect the relationship between cell cycling, mutation accumulation, and aging. The aging process has a complex relationship with cell cycling: cell cycling maintains organ function by ensuring self-renewal, but this cycling is thought to drive mutation accumulation, and to eventually lead to senescence. Our long-term aim is to elucidate the strategies used by animals to minimize the negative impact of cell cycling, and to elucidate the compromises made between self-renewal and mutation accrual. We are establishing germline stem cells of the roundworm C. elegans as a uniquely-powerful model system to study these strategies, by asking new systems-level questions and by developing new molecular assays as well as cutting-edge computational tools.

Various specific projects are already available in the laboratory, but the successful applicant will be given the opportunity to further define his/her own project according to his/her interests. Applicants should hold a PhD in biology, or hold a PhD in a theoretical discipline and have demonstrated ability to learn experimental techniques. Prior experience with C. elegans is not required.

UC Irvine provides an outstanding environment for postdoctoral scholars to broaden their skills and research interests, thanks to multidisciplinary structures such as the Center for Complex Biological Systems, one of only 13 NIH-funded National Centers for Systems Biology, or the Institute for Genomics and Bioinformatics. UC Irvine is located in Southern California, which offers clement weather throughout the year as well as numerous opportunities for outdoor activities.

To apply, send a statement of research accomplishments and interests, a CV, and have three reference letters sent directly to Olivier Cinquin, Dept. of Developmental and Cell Biology, 4103 McGaugh Hall, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-2300, or olivier.cinquin@uci.edu by 11/1/2012. The University of California, Irvine is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity.