Postdoctoral Associate in Stem Cell Biology
Washington University School of Medicine
A postdoctoral position is available to study molecular mechanisms that regulate hematopoietic and vascular lineage commitment and differentiation. One research project is to understand transcriptional regulation involved in the development of the hemangioblast; a common progenitor of hematopoietic and endothelial cells. We recently demonstrated that ER71, an ets transcription factor, is critical for hematopoietic and vascular development. Our current efforts are to identify and characterize ER71 downstream target genes that regulate blood and vessel development. We utilize in vitro differentiation model of embryonic stem (ES) cells, ChIP-sequencing and conditional knockout mouse studies. Several additional transcription factors regulating primitive and definitive hematopoietic as well as vascular development are also being investigated. Additional research project is to obtain induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and investigate in vivo developmental potential of ES- and iPS- derived hematopoietic progenitors. Specifically, we are determining if transplantable hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can be derived from ES and iPS cells. Such demonstrations should be the basis for future clinical applications of ES and iPS derived cells.
Washington University provides an excellent medical research environment. Interested applicants should have a PhD and/or MD degree, a strong background in molecular biology, cell biology, or mouse genetics and strong publication records. Please send a cover letter, brief description of research experience and interests, curriculum vitae and contact information for three references to Kyunghee Choi, Ph.D., Washington University School of Medicine Department of Pathology, 660 S. Euclid Ave, Campus Box 8118, St. Louis, MO 63110. Phone: 314-362-8716 Fax: 314-362-8888 email: kchoi@wustl.edu
Recent publications:
Park, C., Lavine, K., Mishina, Y., Deng, C.X., Ornitz, D.M. and Choi, K. 2006. Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptor IA signaling is essential for vascular development and atrioventricular endocardial cushion formation, but not for hematopoietic development. Development133: 3473-3484.
Lugus, J.J., Chung, Y.S., Mills, J., Kim, S., Grass, F., Kyba, M., Doherty, J., Bresnick, E.H., and Choi, K. 2007. GATA-2 functions at multiple steps in hemangioblast development and differentiation. Development 134:393-405.
Lee, D., Park, C., Lee, H., Lugus, J.J., Kim, S.H., Arentson, E., Chung, Y.S., Gomez, G., Kyba, M., Lin, S., Janknecht, R., Lim, D.S. and Choi, K. 2008. ER71 acts downstream of BMP, Notch and Wnt signaling in blood and vessel progenitor specification. Cell Stem Cell 2:497-507.
