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Postdoctoral Fellow
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Position Number: 5482519
Location: Moscow, ID
Position Type: Liberal Arts - Ethnic & Multicultural Studies

University of Idaho

Postdoctoral Fellow

Location: Moscow

Division/College: College of Science

Employee Category: Exempt

Pay Range: $60,985.60

FTE: 1

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Position Summary:
Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of congenital birth defects. The most common sequela observed in symptomatic infants is sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). SNHL is also observed, somewhat perplexingly, during early childhood, developing over a period of years in children born hearing competent and asymptomatic for infection at birth. The most abundant peripheral nervous system (PNS) myelin protein, myelin protein zero (MPZ), is largely responsible for compaction of the PNS myelin sheath. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Type 1B and Dejerine-Sottas syndromes patients, with mutations in MPZ, frequently suffer from late-onset SNHL, similar to that observed in HCMV congenitally-infected children. MPZ expression is dramatically decreased in congenital HCMV-infected tissue samples. Schwann cells (SCs) are the only cells in the body that produce MPZ. HCMV infection of SCs, or sole expression of the HCMV tegument protein pp71 in culture, causes large decreases in MPZ mRNA levels. SCs express MPZ protein only when directly contacting the neurons they sheathe, making a tractable co-culture system essential to studying defects in myelination. Substantial literature describes rat SC/neuron co-culture; however, very little work has reported using only human cells, essential for the study of species-restricted Human CMV pathogenesis.

The project: We have developed an all-human three-dimensional (3D) SC/neuron co-culture system, amenable to the study of HCMV interactions. Our preliminary experiments have produced robust neurite outgrowth, SC/neuron interactions, MPZ expression and myelination. Initial experiments with pp71-expressing SCs produced very different interactions between the cell types and no evidence of myelination.

We propose to 1) Rigorously characterize our all-human in vitro SC/neuron 3D co-culture system designed to study HCMV's influence on MPZ production and myelination ; 2) Assess the ramifications of HCMV infection or sole pp71 expression on the baseline parameters established above; 3) Determine whether loss of MPZ function alone (via CRISPR KO in the SC) can replicate the perturbations we observe during infection- or sole pp71 expression and 4) utilize our co-culture system to examine crosstalk between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and myelin production, MPZ in particular, since the literature suggests a critical link between the ECM and SCs' ability to properly myelinate neurons.

Minimum Qualifications:

Ph.D. in molecular/cellular/neurobiology, virology or a related field.

Strong publication record, as documented by first author publications (submitted, in press, or published) in English language peer-reviewed journals.
Practical experience with standard molecular/cellular biological techniques including DNA and RNA isolation, molecular cloning, gel electrophoresis and in protein techniques including Western blotting, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitations.
Prior experience with performance of tissue culture driven experiments.
Good interpersonal and communication skills, good record keeping and computer skills.
Willing and capable of doing oral and written presentations of experimental results.
Willing to work with human pathogenic viruses, human stem cells and radioisotopes.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience working with a pathogenic virus in tissue culture (particularly in neuronal cells).
Experience with stem and neural cell culture and/or 3D tissue culture models.
Experience using advanced molecular techniques (ChIPs, qPCR, quantitative real time RT-PCR, CRISPR-driven experiments) and/or protein/DNA interaction studies.
Experience using advanced microscopy techniques (Confocal microscopy, electron microscopy).

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

Required Licensures, Certifications or other

Posting Number: SP004545P

Posting Date: 07/31/2024

Closing Date:

Open Until Filled: Yes

Special Instructions:
Open until filled. Priority review for those who apply by August 31, 2024.

Background Check: Applicants who are selected as final possible candidates must be able to pass a criminal background check.

To apply, please visit: jobs.uidaho.edu

EEO Statement
University of Idaho is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.