Postdoctoral positions in Spatial Omics and Protein Sensors at the University of Washington in Seattle

The laboratory of Dr. Liangcai Gu (www.uwgulab.org ) in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Washington School of Medicine invites applications for two postdoctoral positions in developing Spatial Omics and Protein Sensor technologies. These positions are available immediately.

We develop and use integrated approaches for spatiotemporal, multimodal measure and control of complex living systems from molecules to tissues. We recently created protein-based sensors and actuators for chemical sensing and chemogenetic or optogenetic manipulation of cell behaviors in behaving animals. We developed polony gel (clonal DNA cluster array of ? 1-µm features)-based spatial barcoding and sequencing to spatially map single-cell transcriptomes and proteomes in intact tissues to study physiological, pathological, and pharmacological changes. Techniques frequently used in current projects include protein display and high-throughput screening, polony gel fabrication and sequencing, Pixel-seq, SMI-seq, mass spectrometry, and fluorescence imaging. We are applying new tools to study cellular senescence in tissues and brain mechanisms of chronic pain and drug addiction, to improve safety and efficacy of gene and cell therapies, and to guide the evolution of multi-enzyme machinery making high-value chemicals.

Related publications:

1.    Polony gels enable amplifiable DNA stamping and spatial transcriptomics of chronic pain. Cell, 2022, 185, 4621

2.    Defining Molecular Glues with A Dual-Nanobody Cannabidiol Sensor. Nature Communications, 2022, 815, 13

3.    Creating Red Light-Switchable Protein Dimerization Systems as Genetically Encoded Actuators with High Specificity. ACS Synthetic Biology, 2020, 9, 3322

4.    COMBINES-CID: An Efficient Method for De Novo Engineering of Highly Specific Chemically Induced Protein Dimerization Systems. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2019, 141, 10948

Requirements:

Applicants should have a Ph.D. degree (or equivalent) in related fields including, but not limited to biochemistry, genetics, bioengineering, immunology, and neuroscience. Desirable backgrounds/skills include: i) spatial transcriptomics, ii) proteomics, iii) mass spectrometry, iv) next-generation sequencing, v) bioinformatics, vi) protein screening techniques such as phage and yeast display and yeast two-hybrid screening.

Applicants should have a strong publication record, good spoken and written communication skills. Interested applicants should send i) a cover letter briefly describing your previous experience and future research interests/plans, ii) a curriculum vitae, and iii) contact information of three references to Dr. Liangcai Gu (gulc@uwgulab.org ).

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