Rotation projects include development of nanobodies for prevention and treatment of mucosal disease (viral and bacteria).
Dr. Eileen L. Berman and Stanley I. Berman Foundation Chair in Biomedical Research
Blais University Chair in Molecular Medicine
Potential Rotation Projects: There are numerous potential rotation project available in the Mello lab: Projects include: Investigation of RNAi and related mechanisms, including Piwi Argonaute pathways and their affects on fertility and epigenetic inheritance; Investigation of germline determination and cell-fate specification during embryogenesis; the exploration of CRISPR mediated genome editing tools for C. elegans and other organisms; and finally the use of CRISPR to generate C. elegans models for human genetic disease.
Fiocruz-Minas Caroline Junqueira, PhD - Staff Scientist Camila Brabosa, PhD student - Mapping of CD8 T cell-specifc Epitopes from Malaria Blood Stage Gregorio Almeida, DVM, PhD - Immunology of Asymptomatic Malaria Guilherme Maia, PhD - Innate Lymphocytes in Malaria Isabella Hirako, PhD - Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells in Malaria Júlia Castro, MSc student - Chagas Disease Vaccine Larissa Pereira, MSc student - Inflammatory Caspases in Malaria Kely Mateucci, PhD - Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells Metabolism in Malaria Milton Pereira, PhD - Caspases and inflammasomes in Malaria and Chagas Disease Natalia Satchiko Souza, PhD - CD8+ T cells in malaria UMASS Danielle Durso, PhD - IRAKs and Myddosomes in host resistance to T. gondii Patricia Assis, PhD - Host Clock genes and Malaria Ogooluwa Ojelabi, PhD - Glucose Metabolism and Malaria
Endowed Chair in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology II
For more information about the Postdoctoral position in Dr. Rando’s lab please use the link provided. Post doc position
Rotation projects are available to study chromatin structure and function. Project 1. Measure histone dynamics in yeast. Histone dynamics play major roles in chromatin metabolism and in the inheritance of chromatin states. To measure histone replacement rates in yeast, we have created yeast strains carrying inducible epitope-tagged histones H3 and H2A. Using microarrays, we will measure histone replacement rates in a variety of mutant yeast to ascertain the role of various chromatin remodeling factors in histone exchange reactions. Project 2. Characterize mechanisms for epigenetic inheritance in yeast. We have identified a variety of genes whose expression state in yeast is epigenetically heritable. We will screen the yeast genome for genes that affect the inheritance of these expression patterns. Project 3. Measure histone dynamics in embryonic stem cells. Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells that can give rise to every type of cell in the adult animal. The role of chromatin structure in maintaining this pluripotent state is poorly understood, but it appears that stem cell chromatin is exceptionally labile relative to that in differentiated cells. We will create stem cell lines with inducible tagged histones to measure histone replacement rates across the mouse genome.
Elisabeth Chair for the Dean of Medicine
The project aims to develop computational algorithms and software programs for analyzing high-throughput sequence data such as ChIP-Seq RNA-Seq small RNA sequencing data. PhD required. A strong background in computational biology especially experience with analyzing high-throughput sequencing data is highly desirable. Excellent communication and writing skills and the ability to work with experimental and computational collaborators are essential. To apply please forward CV cover letter and three references to: Zhiping.Weng@umassmed.edu
Please contact Dr. Weng for information on rotations that are available in her lab.
Rotations <p >Project 1: Genetic screens for proteins that modify or regulate the activity of microRNAs in C. elegans.
Donna M. and Robert J. Manning Chair in Neurosciences
Dr. Brown’s laboratory has focused on the identification of gene defects that elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of selected neuromuscular diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), muscular dystrophy, adrenoleukodystrophy, hereditary neuropathy and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis.
The lab is currently looking for motivated postdoctoral scholars with backgrounds in genomics and computational biology. Please email the PI.
Rotation projects are available related to malaria and Burkitt lymphoma. Our projects range from genetic epidemiology to directed genomics studying human, parasite and tumor.
<p >Potential rotation projects My lab primarily investigates Plasmodium falciparum malaria-induced dysregulation of EBV-specific T cell immunity and its role in the etiology of endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL), the most prevalent pediatric cancer in Equatorial Africa. Within the context of our ongoing studies of healthy Kenyan children with divergent malaria exposure histories (chronic/repeated infections in a holoendemic area versus low infection rates in a nearby highland, malaria hypoendemic area) and by examining children diagnosed with eBL we have established a repository of samples that can be used to address this question. <p >1. One avenue of exploration involves homeostatic cytokine regulation of memory T cells. IL-15 and/or IL-7 responsiveness of EBV-specific memory T cells may be impaired in children with chronic malaria exposure and in children with endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL). We would like to investigate IL-15Ra and IL-7Ra surface expression, and CFSE proliferation of EBV-specific T cells in response to cognate antigen with and without IL-15 or IL-7 stimulation and compared children with divergent malaria exposure histories and children diagnosed with eBL. T cell responsiveness to IL-15 and IL-7 can be measured by STAT5 phosphorylation and the specificity of this effect for EBV-specific T cells can be evaluated by comparing IL-15Ra and IL-7Ra expression and responsiveness on other lymphocyte subsets and CMV-specific T cells. <p >2. Another putative mechanism by which malaria may interfere with the development of immunologic memory and influence EBV-specific T cell immunity is through the Programmed death-1 (PD-1) pathway. PD-1 is an immune inhibitory molecule that negatively regulates activated immune cells upon interacting with its ligands, programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) and programmed death ligand-2 (PD-L2) resulting in down-regulation of immune responses. Previous studies in murine and primate viral and parasitic diseases have reported the up-regulation of PD-1 and soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) but no studies have reported the expression of PD-1 in individuals from areas with divergent malaria transmission dynamics or in children presenting with endemic Burkitt lymphoma (eBL). In addition the PD-1 pathway has been suggested to be involved in the evasion of antitumor immunity by the host immune system. Preliminary studies in my lab suggest that PD-1 expression is significantly increased on CD4, CD8 T cells, B cells and NK cells in those residing in high malaria transmission areas compared to age-matched individuals without a history of malaria exposure. Future studies will explore the kinetics of this effect, the impact of antigen dose and how malaria exploits PD-1 mediated regulation to impair the development of immunologic memory. <p >3. Another area of interest is the role of Th17 cells in pediatric immunity. Because of the naturally delayed production of TH1 mediated pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-12 and IFN-g) in utero, neonatal immunity is thought to be Ã¢â‚¬ËœsuppressedÃ¢â‚¬â„¢. However, more recent studies have shown that neonatal monocytes and antigen-presenting cells do express pro-inflammatory and regulatory cytokines (i.e. IL-6, IL-10 and IL-23) and at higher levels than adults. Thus TH17 cells appear to be an early, sequential response to pathogens prior to the induction of a TH1 or TH2 response. TH17 cells are also stimulated with IL-21 and IL-22 in an autocrine and paracrine fashion by natural killer cells. Exploring Th17 cell responses within the context of early-age human infections with malaria and EBV would be an exciting new avenue of investigation in my laboratory.
Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair III
Please email Kate.Fitzgerald@umassmed.edu if you are interested in rotations.
Isadore and Fannie Foxman Chair in Medical Research
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Czech for additional details.
Mentoring……………………………………………………………………………………………………… The Czech laboratory is active in mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. Many former student and postdoctoral trainees of the Czech laboratory are now internationally recognized professors at major universities and medical schools. These former lab members include: Paul Pilch, Professor of Biochemistry, Boston University School of Medicine Jeffrey Pessin, Professor and Director of the Diabetes Center, Einstein College of Medicine Joan Massague, Director, Sloan Kettering Institute Roger Davis, HHMI investigator and Professor of Molecular Medicine, UMASS Medical School Silvia Corvera, Professor of Molecular Medicine, Co-Director of the MD/PhD Program, UMASS Medical School Carla Greenbaum, Vice Chair and Director of Clinical Research, Benaroya Research Institute Jes Klarlund, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Rob Lewis, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center Richard MacDonald, Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Eppley Cancer Institute, University of Nebraska Medical Center Assia Shisheva, Professor of Physiology, Wayne State School of Medicine. Mark Sleeman, Professor of Physiology, Monash University, Australia John Harris, Associate Professor of Medicine, UMASS Medical School Zhen Jiang, Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Medicine, Boston University Vishu Puri, Professor of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University Olga Gupta, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Tim Fitzgibbons, Assistant Professor of Medicine, UMASS Medical School Myriam Aouadi, Assistant Professor, Integrated Cardio Metabolic Centre, Karolinska Institute Adilson Guilherme, Associate Professor, University of Massachusetts Medical School Our laboratory currently offers graduate student Rotation Projects (examples below and others available) and Thesis Research Projects for students following a rotation: Developing CRISPR technology for gene editing in adipocytes: Adipocytes function as master regulators of whole body metabolism and deletions of specific adipocyte genes in knockout mice promote dramatic improvements in glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in diabetic models. Thus the ability to direct gene editing in adipocytes in vivo has great potential in developing therapeutic strategies for obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications. Alternatively, an ex vivo approach is also feasible since adipose cells can be genetically altered in vitro prior to implantation into mice with beneficial effects. Such projects are designed to be performed in collaboration with other Czech lab members with the goal of specifically deleting or editing genes in adipose depots that drive increases in fatty acid oxidation, energy expenditure and systemic metabolic activity. Exciting preliminary data at the “proof of principle” stage has been achieved and this project is designed to focus on specific genes of high interest for therapeutics. Signaling by the lipogenesis pathway through Acetyl CoA: A major function of adipocytes is to store calories as triglyceride, in part through the process of fatty acid synthesis (lipogenesis). This metabolic pathway involves a number of metabolites including Acetyl CoA, which is also a substrate for acetylation reactions that modify proteins such as histones. Thus metabolic flux through adipocyte lipogenesis may also function as a signaling pathway to the nucleus to modulate transcription via levels of Acetyl CoA that accumulate during this process. This rotation project is designed to test this idea at the molecular level by monitoring histone acetylations and resultant transcriptional events during changes in Acetyl CoA levels caused by altering physiological conditions such as exercise, obesity and diabetes. If this concept is correct, the project could lead to developing therapeutic strategies for metabolic disease based on targeting lipogenic enzymes.
H. Arthur Smith Chair in Cancer Research
Rotation Projects Laboratory rotations are available to study signal mammalian transduction mechanisms. Several projects are available, including studies of protein kinase cascades, gene expression, the cell cycle, and apoptosis. Targeted gene disruption approaches in mice combined with biochemical and molecular biology studies will be examined.
LAB ROTATION PROJECTS AVAILABLE -- PLEASE CONTACT SAM BEHAR FOR MORE INFORMATION
Focus: We seek to understand how the causative agent of tuberculosis, namely the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis evades host immunity, and how different components of the immune response work together to contain infection. Our ultimate goal is to inform vaccine development and the design of host directed therapy.
Neil and Margery Blacklow Chair in Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Immediate opening! Two postdoctoral positions are available immediately to study cellular andmolecular mechanisms resulting in immunosuppression after alcohol use. Thefocus of this research is the role of monocytes and dendritic cells indecreased antigen-specific T cell activation after alcohol use.Intracellular signalling mechanisms resulting in decreased NF-kBactivation and inflammatory cytokine induction after acute alcoholconsumption are being investigated. Please contact Dr. Szabo for details.
Background for Student Rotation Projects <p >See Politz, Hogan and Pederson (2009) and Politz et al. (2005) in the above list. The novel microRNA work may be the most suitable for student rotations. Potential Rotation Projects <p >Are the nucleolar microRNAs pri-, pre- or mature? <p >Are they complexed with other nucleolar RNAs? <p >Do the cell cycle related proteins in the nucleolus exist as heterotypic complexes? <p >Does the nucleolus of human embryonic stem cells also share these features (which we have so far looked for, and found, only in transformed human cell lines)? <p >Can vanadium tagging be used to detect specific proteins by electron microscopy, perhaps exceeding the limitations of immuno-EM?
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Rogaev for additional details.
Gretchen Stone Cook Chair in Biomedical Sciences
A postdoctoral position is available to study in this laboratory. Contact Dr. Zamore for additional details
Potential Rotation Projects Our laboratory uses a combination of biochemistry, cell biology, and genetics to dissect the RNAi pathway. A rotation project is available to explore the mechanisms that underlie the RNAi phenomenon or the biological pathways in which RNAi enzymes participate in flies, mice and humans.
Arthur F. and Helen P. Koskinas Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology
Herman G. Berkman Chair in Diabetes Care Innovation
Joseph J. Byrne Chair in Biomedical Research
? Rotation Projects Multiple rotation projects are available in several areas related to long-range gene regulation and higher order chromosome organization. Projects include thorough analyses of the biochemical mechanisms of long-range gene regulation of specific disease-related genes, as well as large-scale analyses of chromosome organization using high-throughput genomics technologies (5C and Hi-C). The lab employs a wide range of experimental approaches, including cell culture, protein biochemistry, microscopy, genomics as well computational approaches such as bioinformatics and modeling. Specific rotation projects are determined dependent on the interest of the student.
Rotation Projects <p >We have identified a number of bacterial pathways that are required for bacterial viability or virulence. We are particularly interested in: Phosphosignaling systems that regulate cell wall synthesis Metabolic regulatory mechanisms that trigger the “dormancy” response observed during infection. <p >A variety of genetic, biochemical, and informatic methods will be used to define the functions of these genes and the role played by each during infection. <p >
Richard M. Haidack Professor in Medicine
Population and Quantitative Health Sciences
Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology
Healthcare Delivery and Population Sciences at UMass Chan - Baystate
Worcester Foundation for Biomedical Research Chair I
Joseph D. Early Chair in Biomedical Research
Dr. Wilcox trained in EM at the Harvard Affiliated EM Residency, then completed an Anesthesia Critical Care fellowship. In addition to the ED, she has attended in Surgical, Medical, and Cardiac ICUs. She joined Lahey Hospital in 2022 as the Medical Director of the 5C Medical ICU. She is Vice Chair for Academic Affairs and a Professor of Medicine. She is the Associate CMO for Boston MedFlight.
EMCrit 181 – Pulmonary Hypertension and Right Ventricular Failure with Susan Wilcox
HarvardX: Mechanical Ventilation for COVID-19
CritCases 7 Pulmonary Hypertension – A Fine Balance
Academic Life in Emergency Medicine: The Myth of Vasopressors and Ischemia
ACEP COVID-19 Field Guide: ICU Care in the Emergency Department
Podcast summary of articles from the June 2021 edition of the Journal of Emergency Medicine