The Department of Biological Sciences at UNC Charlotte invites applications for a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join Dr. Xiaojun Ren's laboratory, which specializes in epigenetics and genome regulation. This position offers an exciting opportunity to engage in cutting-edge research at the intersection of chromatin regulation, liquid-liquid phase separation, and single-molecule imaging. We are looking for an enthusiastic team member eager to contribute to pioneering discoveries in this dynamic and rapidly evolving field.
Research Areas and Projects
• Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Chromatin Regulation and Transcription.
• Single-Molecule and Super-Resolution Imaging of Epigenetic and Chromatin Processes.
• Epigenetic Mechanisms in Cancers.
• Therapeutic Targeting of Epigenetic Modifications and LLPS.
Qualifications
• A Ph.D. awarded within the last ten years.
• Proven expertise in one or more of the following areas: biochemistry, biophysics, molecular and cellular biology, chemical biology, or molecular genetics.
• Preferred experience in genomic data analysis, single-molecule biophysics, epigenetics, liquid-liquid phase separation, and CRISPR/Cas9.
• Availability to begin a postdoctoral position by March 1, 2025.
About the Ren Research Group and University of North Carolina Charlotte
(https://pages.charlotte.edu/renlab/)
Dr. Xiaojun Ren is the Irwin Belk Distinguished Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNC Charlotte). Prior to joining UNC Charlotte in August 2024, he was a faculty member at the University of Colorado Denver.
Dr. Ren¡¯s laboratory has made groundbreaking contributions to the field of epigenetics, particularly in understanding the mechanisms of chromatin regulation. His team was the first to demonstrate that Polycomb group (PcG) proteins form condensates via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) (Tatavosian et al., JBC, 2019; Brown et al., Cell Reports, 2023; Kent et al., Cell Reports, 2020). The lab has also pioneered live-cell single-molecule tracking techniques to study the dynamics of epigenetic factors in vivo (Kent et al., Cell Reports, 2020; Tatavosian et al., Nature Communications, 2018; Zhen et al., eLife, 2016).
UNC Charlotte is a public research university located in Charlotte, North Carolina, known for its academic excellence and research growth. In the 2024 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings, it was ranked #81 among public universities. The university is on track to achieve R1 research status by 2025.Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina and the 15th-most populous in the U.S., has seen substantial growth due to economic opportunities, a thriving tech sector, and a relatively low cost of living.
Application Instructions
Please submit the following to Dr. Xiaojun Ren (xren2@charlotte.edu). Applications will be reviewed immediately until the position is filled.
• A detailed CV/resume.
• Contact information for two or three references. |