Contact:  drmeibq@gmail.com

Web: https://med.umn.edu/dermatology/research/basic/neuro-immuno-interface-lab

1. Researcher 4 (or 5 if qualified)

 Required Qualifications:

  • Advanced degree with 1 or more years of research training
  • Experience in molecular biology/cellular biology work, particularly in epigenetic regulations in the translational interface between human disorders and cellular 2D and 3D models. 
  • Demonstrated skills in experiment handling and design in molecular biology, cell culture, and/or fluorescence microscopy.
  • Skilled working knowledge and experience of current biology/biochemistry pathways and techniques.
  • Experience with molecular (RNA, DNA, Protein and ChIP assay) and cellular analysis of biology samples and dissecting molecular signaling pathway
  • Good team player with strong communication skills, able to think for oneself and good at troubleshooting independently.
  • Contribution to complete manuscript and part of grant application·
  • Passionate about own work with strong work ethics

 

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:

  • Ph.D degree or Postdoc in biology, pharmacology, neuroscience or related fields and 3 years of related experience or a combination of education and work experience to equal six (6) years
  • Experience using different light source and interface design with microscopy and  immuno- histochemistry 
  • Experience with human primary human skin keratinocyte, stem cell derived sensory neurons and related cells for 2D and 3D models.
  • Skill of isolating RNA and protein from human tissues preferably epithelial and skin tissues. 
  • Knowledge in G-protein coupled receptors, intracellular signaling, circadian rhythm, photobiology, optical physics and lab device design
  • Bio-engineering skills and experience designing new assays for co-culture system and optical physics for novel in-vivo human studies using spectroscopy and/or in-vivo confocal microscopy
  • Bioprinting experience is a plus.
  • Productive and prolific publication(s).

 

Project/Job Description:

Neuro Immuno Interface lab studies the interaction between sensory neurons,  epithelial cells and immune system, and circadian rhythm roles in this interaction. Our lab has discovered cutaneous neurotransmitter and light receptors and their crucial function in skin sensation (itch and pain) , homeostasis and their relation to circadian rhythm. Using human primary keratinocytes, fibroblast culture, knock-out mice model with molecular and cellular techniques we have characterized inter-cellular, cellular-matrix, skin cell, peripheral nerve fibers interaction and the receptor signaling pathways.  

Current position candidate will conduct experiments and develop further the molecular biology related projects in the lab using epigenetic and transcriptomic analysis and molecular biochemical technique dissecting signaling pathway and transcriptional regulatory mechanism in the interaction between epithelial, immune and nerve cells, and the effects of cytokines and neurotransmitters on epithelial circadian rhythms and the downstream effects of the circadian genes to the cellular DNA. Our lab mainly use human skin biopsies, primary keratinocyte, iPSC derived sensory neurons and 2D and 3D model system as tools. 

 

Job Responsibilities: 

30%

  • Study the effect of circadian genes on immune response in skin and its impact on skin physiology and pathology.
  • Dissect the transcriptional regulatory mechanism on above multi facet interaction.

20%

  • Isolate RNA from skin biopsies and primary keratinocytes and sensory neurons.
  • Conduct RNAseq, ChIP assay, qPCR
  • Analyze the morphology and expression of RNA and protein in human skin samples using western blot analysis. The techniques involve immunohistochemistry, various forms of microscopy and spectroscopy, RNA isolation and various RNA analysis methods.

20%

  • Transcription, epigenetic data analysis and signaling pathways finding and dissection.

10%

  • Grow 3D full thickness skin model, create new 3D models with genetically modified cells and incorporate other cell types including vascular, neural and pigmented cells into the models

10%

  • Derive human peripheral sensory neurons from human stem cells.
  • Study the interactions between epidermal cells and peripheral nerve fibers in co-culture.
  • Characterize the change of the quality and function of the neuron or the epithelial cells due to the presence of the other component.
  • Experiments will involve culture of skin cells and neuronal cells and co-culture of both; calcium imaging; confocal microscopy

10%

  • Manuscript and grant proposal writing

If interested, please contact drmeibq@gmail.com

2. Job Title: Researcher 1

Job ID: 334117

Location: Twin Cities

Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Qualifications

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials. Required Qualifications:

  • BS/BA degree in biology, pharmacology, neuroscience or related fields or a combination of education and work experience to equal four (4) years
  • Experience in cellular biology work and demonstrated skills in experiment handling and design in cell culture, molecular biology, and fluorescence microscopy
  • Demonstrated experience working with both cell lines and primary cells
  • Experience with molecular (RNA, DNA and protein) and cellular analysis of biological samples including testing activation of signaling pathways
  • Experience using different light sources and interface designs with microscopy and immuno- histochemistry

Preferred Qualifications/Skills:

  • 2 years of related experience
  • Master’s degree in a related field
  • Experience with primary human skin keratinocytes, endothelial cells, pericyte, immune cells, stem cell- derived sensory neurons and related cells for 2D and 3D models; ELISA and other immune assays.
  • Good team player with strong communication skills, able to think for oneself and good at troubleshooting independently
  • Passionate about own work with strong work ethics
  • Candidates must be willing to work as part of a team to contribute to collaborative tool-development projects
  • Experience in performing small animal surgery
  • Knowledge of G protein-coupled receptors, intracellular signaling, electrophysiology, optical physics and lab device design
  • Knowledge for circadian rhythm
  • Bio-engineering skills and experience designing new assays for co-culture system and optical physics for novel in vivo human studies using spectroscopy and/or in vivo confocal microscopy
  • Co-authorships on publication(s)

About the Job

 Project/Job Description:

The Neuro Immuno Interface (NII) Lab is focusing on the function of neuropeptide systems in epithelial tissue repair, immune function, skin sensory disorders and circadian rhythm regulation. We study the role of neuropeptides and their receptors in nerve regeneration, and their interactions with epithelial cells to mediate the wound healing process especially immune and neuronal reaction. The nervous system in skin interacts closely with different skin cells, such as keratinocytes, and immune cells. We have shown that neurotransmitter systems and other sensory receptor systems exist in skin cells and influence both skin sensation, homeostasis and immune modulation. The aim of this project is to study the role of cytokines and neurotransmitters in the cutaneous multi player network using human stem cell co-culture system, molecular and cellular biology, and circadian rhythm sample collection to study the function of keratinocytes, immune cells, sensory neurons and endothelial cells for their interactions. We collaborate extensively with engineers and clinicians and aim for high impact research including experiments to be conducted on the international space station. Recently we are initiating a Long COVID project on neuro-immuno-vascular disorder symptom.

Job Responsibilities

40%:

Grow 3D full thickness skin model, create new 3D models with genetically modified cells and incorporate other cell types including vascular, immune cells, pigmented cells into the models.

30%:

Derive human peripheral sensory neurons from human stem cells. Study the interactions between epidermal cells and peripheral nerve fibers or immune cells or endothelial cells in co-culture. Characterize the change of the quality and function of the neuron or the epithelial cells due to the presence of the other component.

Experiments will involve culture of skin cells, neuronal cells and endothelial cells and co-culture between them; circadian rhythm sample collection; confocal microscopy.

20%:

Analyze the morphology and expression of protein and RNA in human skin samples. The techniques involve immunohistochemistry, various forms of microscopy and spectroscopy, RNA isolation, various RNA analysis methods, Western blot, ChIP and EMSA assay.

10%:

Study the effect of different neurotransmitters and cytokines on axon development and guidance in vitro and the changes in the interactions between epithelial cells and nerve fibers. Investigate the role of opioid receptors in this interaction using our transgenic cell lines.

If interested, please contact     drmeibq@gmail.com

 For additional information, see our web site, https://med.umn.edu/dermatology