SHARE:  

View this in a web browser

The RNA Transcript | August 28, 2023

Seminars

Department of Human Genetics 2023-2024 Seminar Series

Please join us for our kickoff seminar on Thursday, September 7th at 3pm in BSRB.


 “Alternative splicing regulates expression of the neuroprotective cold-shock protein RBM3 and the leukemia-associated splicing factor RBM39”

 

Presented by:

Marc-David Ruepp, Ph.D.

Reader in RNA Biology & Molecular Neurodegeneration

UK Dementia Research Group Leader

 

Thursday, September 7

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST

BSRB - 1020 Kahn Auditorium

 

Hosted by:

Stephanie Moon, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Human Genetics

Faculty Scholar of the Center for RNA Biomedicine

Affiliate Faculty, Biological Chemistry & Michigan Neuroscience Institute

U-M RNA Innovation Seminar Series

"Discovering and targeting repeat expansions in human disease”


Graham Erwin, Ph.D.

Stanford Cancer Institute Postdoctoral Fellow

Department of Genetics

Stanford University


Monday, September 11, 2023

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

BSRB ABC Seminar Rooms, Hybrid Link

HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine Seminar Series

Mo-Fang Liu, Ph.D.

Distinguished Adjunct Professor from CAS

Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)


RNA Regulation in Spermatogenesis and Male Infertility

 

Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023

10:00 AM EST

Join Virtually Register Here


Please reach out to Grace Lee at glee8@bidmc.harvard.edu for any questions regarding the HiRM Seminar Series

RNA Collaborative Seminar

NCI RNA Biology Initiative, NIH National Cancer Institute, Center for Cancer Research


Speaker: Natasha Caplen, Ph.D., “hnRNPs, RNA biosynthesis, and disease: Insights from a fusion-driven cancer”


Speaker: Sarah Dremel, Ph.D., "Consequences of circular RNA escape during herpesvirus host shut off"


Moderator: Sandra Wolin, MD, PhD


Wednesday, September 13, 2023

4:00 PM ET

Zoom

_______________________________________



This Week: Oral Defenses

U-M Oral Dissertations

For more information and to view the full schedule of upcoming U-M Oral Defenses, please visit the Rackham Graduate School Oral Defenses website.

Events

Film Screening and Panel Discussion - September 27


The Center for RNA Biomedicine together with Michigan Medicine will present a special screening of the film “Awakenings” at the historic Michigan Theater. The presentation will be preceded by a panel discussion and Q&A session with Michigan experts specializing in neurology and the development of RNA Therapeutics for neurologic disease.


Wednesday, September 27

6:00 PM Panel Discussion | 7:00 PM Film Screening

Directed by Penny Marshall and starring Robin Williams and Robert De Niro, the film follows the victims of an encephalitis epidemic many years ago rendered catatonic ever since, and how a new drug offers hope and the prospect of reviving them.


More information and purchase tickets.

RNA SOCIETY

Lexogen RNA Expertise Blog Series

Excellence is in Precision: PCR Add-on and Reamplification Kit V2


Our July 13, 2023 blog post focuses a new PCR Add-on and Reamplification Kit V2 that combines reagents for qPCR and library reamplification in one convenient kit.

Welcome to the LEXOGEN RNA EXPERTISE blog series, where we talk about various topics from the world of RNA and RNA-Seq, focusing on best practices, exciting applications, and more. 


April 2023

RNA Therapeutics: The Future is Bright


Inspired by the RNA journal's April 2023 special edition, we discuss the advantages of RNA therapeutics, concepts, and modes of action of different classes of RNA-based therapeutics. We also give a glimpse into the RNA therapeutics currently being evaluated in clinical trials or having received approval.

Job Postings

RNA Biology Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute - Biologists

We are currently RNA Biology Laboratory (RBL) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Frederick, MD, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is currently seeking to recruit outstanding young RNA biologists. The RBL, which was formed in 2017, is the equivalent of a small department at an academic institution. We seek candidates who will complement our current group of six principal investigators.


Areas of interest include, but are not limited to, RNA therapeutics; long noncoding RNAs; RNA modifications; RNA genomics and bioinformatics; RNA transport and visualization; mechanisms of RNA condensation and granule formation; and the ways in which altered RNA homeostasis results in diseases such as cancer.

 

Candidates for interview will be selected via the NIH Stadtman Tenure Track Investigator program. Our recent hires through this mechanism include Eugene Valkov (Elisa Izaurralde lab), Thomas Gonatopoulos-Pournatzis (Benjamin Blencowe lab) and Colin Wu (Rachel Green lab). Other NCI RNA biologists who were hired recently via this program include Pedro Batista (Howard Chang lab) and Joana Vidigal (Andrea Ventura lab).

 

Single application available at the Stadtman program. Applicants are asked to select two areas that best describe their expertise. There will be a dedicated committee that reviews the applications of all applicants choosing “RNA Biology”.


The application deadline is September 30, 2023.

  

For more information email Sandra L. Wolin, M.D., Ph.D.

Chief and Senior Investigator, at sandra.wolin@nih.gov.


The University of California Irvine (UCI), Department of Ophthalmology

Full-Time Position

The University of California Irvine (UCI), Department of Ophthalmology invites applications for a full-time position. We seek candidates interested in building a strong, dynamic, and diverse research group focused on the development of genetic engineering and genome editing technologies that address problems in medicine, including diseases of the eye.


Applicants working on any area of genetic engineering broadly defined will be fully considered. Areas of particular interest include gene editing, gene delivery, gene therapy, and their relevance to vision research. Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in the biomedical sciences or a related field of study. Postdoctoral experience and a demonstrated ability to conduct original, innovative genetics research is desirable.


This academic appointment will be at the tenure-track/tenured faculty position which confers membership in the UCI Academic Senate. The Department seeks applicants with an M.D., Ph.D., or M.D./Ph.D. degree who will be expected to establish an extramurally funded independent research program related to vision and/or retinal diseases with emphasis in ocular genetics, biochemistry, biophysics, ophthalmology, pharmacology and/or physiology. Successful candidates will have an established strong record of NIH funding, a significantly established research program, and experience in teaching. Candidates will be expected to support institutional and departmental teaching and mentoring missions to medical and graduate students, residents, fellows, and young faculty. Salary and rank will be commensurate with experience and expectations.


Interested candidates should apply through the UC Irvine RECRUIT system and upload the following application materials to be considered for the position:

  • Cover Letter
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • Statement of Research (up to 3 pages)
  • Teaching Statement
  • Inclusive Excellence Activities Statement
  • Name and contact information for 3-5 referees.
  • PDFs of 3-5 recent publications


Inquiries about the position can be addressed to Dr. Krzysztof Palczewski at kpalczew@uci.edu

Applications will be considered until the position is filled.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Graduate Research Assistants

Dr. Guizhi (Julian) Zhu Lab | University of Michigan

Dr. Guizhi (Julian) Zhu Lab in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences of University of Michigan has multiple full-time openings for Postdoctoral Research Fellow and Graduate Research Assistants.

 

With the overarching goal to develop novel and clinically translatable nucleic acid immunotherapeutics and vaccines, Zhu Lab's research interest lies at the interface of RNA/DNA/protein chemistry and engineering, immunology, and applied chemistry and biomaterials. Our current focus is to develop circRNA/mRNA/oligonucleotide immunotherapeutics/vaccines and their delivery systems for the prophylaxis or immunotherapy of cancer, infectious diseases, and autoimmune disorders. We have published 100 papers including recent research articles in Science Advances and Nature Communications. Learn more about Dr. Guizhi (Julian) Zhu.

 

Responsibilities: Lead research projects and work with the team on research projects, train junior graduate students and undergraduate students, writing manuscripts and assist in writing research proposals, and other duties required for regular lab management and research development.

 

Required Qualifications for Postdocs

  • Candidates must hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in a relevant scientific discipline. Expertise in one or multiple of the following fields are desirable: nucleic acid chemistry/engineering/delivery, immunotherapy or vaccine development, gene editing, drug delivery, or related areas
  • Strong motivation and down-to-earth attitude for scientific innovation and drug/vaccine/technology development
  • Independent analytical and problem-solving skills: Ability to think critically, design experiments, analyze and interpret data, and troubleshoot experimental challenges
  • Communication and teamwork: Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively in a diverse team environment.


How to Apply

Interested Postdoc applicants please submit the following application materials to Dr. Guizhi Zhu guizhiz@umich.edu:

  • CV
  • A summary of previous research experience
  • A brief statement of future research interests and career goals
  • Contact information for three letters of reference


Prospective graduate students and research scientists are welcome to contact Dr. Zhu to discuss opportunities (guizhiz@umich.edu).


Additional information about the Zhu Lab and the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus.

Research Technician and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center | The Lapointe Lab

The Lapointe Lab at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is growing, and we are currently seeking to fill two positions: Research Technician and Post-Doctoral Research Fellow.


Research Technician:

This position is ideal for a recent graduate (bachelor’s degree) who wants to gain more research experience before pursuing graduate studies. When you join our group, we prioritize your continued development into an independent scientist.


Please follow this link for instructions on how to apply.


Post-Doctoral Research Fellow:

This position is ideal for a recent (or soon to be) Ph.D. graduate that is excited about RNA, translation, and/or viruses. When you join our group, we prioritize your continued development into an independent scientist.


Please follow this link for instructions on how to apply.


About:

The Lapointe lab is driven by questions that underly how human messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and the ribosome are regulated to determine when, where, and how much of a protein to synthesize.


Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington. 


For more information contact the Employee Services Center at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.

Research Technician - Yadavalli Lab

The Yadavalli lab at the Waksman Institute of Microbiology at Rutgers University (yadavallilab.org) is

looking for a full-time technician or research scientist to perform cutting-edge research in RNA biology

using high-throughput sequencing methods. We are seeking motivated candidates, who are enthusiastic

to train and build their skills in the generation of next-generation sequencing libraries. Our studies primarily

use bacteria, and we collaborate on several projects involving human cell lines, mice, and other model

organisms.


Knowledge and Experience

  • Bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. degree in biological sciences, genetics, biochemistry, or a related scientific field
  • One or more years of molecular biology research experience is required
  • Experience with high-throughput sequencing library preparations is highly desirable
  • Good communication, meticulous organization and record-keeping, and computer literacy are required

Salary and benefits

  • Range $40-80k, commensurate with experience and level of education
  • Medical and dental insurance
  • Retirement benefits
  • Flexible times


Applicants should send a CV, transcript, and a list of references to Dr. Srujana Samhita Yadavalli at sam.yadavalli@rutgers.edu.

Postdoctoral Position - Maquat Lab

A postdoctoral position is open in the Maquat Lab at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, NY. Applicants should hold a PhD or MD/PhD degree(s) and have expertise in molecular, cellular, or structural biology to study one of a number of very exciting and ongoing projects, including but not limited to FMRP function in Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), newly defined effectors of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, or the mechanistic coupling of transcription and RNA processing on chromatin and beyond. A background in neurobiology and/or stem-cell biology would facilitate the work on FXS (see, e.g., this article in the journal Nature), and a background in computational biology would facilitate all projects, but neither is required.  


Interested individuals should submit: 


  1. A complete curriculum vitae
  2. The names and email addresses of three references (applicants should state their relationship to each)
  3. A description of RNA research experience, including experimental approaches and technologies with which the applicant has experience.  


The successful applicant will join a very productive, interactive lab and a lively, supportive RNA community that consists of more than 25 labs spanning the University of Rochester Medical Center and the adjacent Colleges of Arts, Sciences & Engineering. The Maquat lab offers an outstanding research environment, excellent opportunities to collaborate with basic scientists and clinicians, and a strong record of training postdocs for academic positions.

 

Please submit applications to: Liz at elizabeth_leverenz@urmc.rochester.edu 

Maquat Lab Website 

Center for RNA Biology


The University of Rochester is committed to diversity and equality in education and employment. EOE Minorities/Females/Protected Veterans/Disabled.

Postdoctoral Position - Cooperman Laboratory

The Cooperman laboratory in the Chemistry Department of the University of Pennsylvania is seeking to recruit a postdoctoral student with a strong interest in understanding the mechanism and regulation of cytoplasmic eukaryotic protein synthesis. We have developed a highly purified, eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesis system and used it to determine the mechanism of initiating polypeptide elongation in an IRES- dependent system (Zhang et al., Elife 2016 5:e13429), measure the direct interaction of nonsense suppressor molecules with the protein synthesis machinery (Ng et al., ACS Med Chem Lett. 9:1285-1291), elucidate

the mechanisms of elongation and termination, differentiate between the mechanisms by which different nonsense suppressors stimulate readthrough of nonsense codons (Ng et al., PNAS 2021 118, e2020599118) and determine the precise mode of action of ataluren, the only nonsense suppressor currently in clinical use (Huang et al., Nature Comm. 2022 13: 2413). Our current efforts are focused on 1) determining the precise effects of epigenetic modification of mRNA and tRNA on polypeptide elongation and termination and 2) identifying new nonsense suppressors more potent than ataluren using high throughput screening (Ghelfi

et al., 2023 Biomolecules, 13, 242) and determining which patients are most likely to benefit from nonsense

suppressor treatment.


The successful applicant should be mechanistically oriented with expertise in biochemical and molecular

biological approaches. Experience with steady-state and pre-steady-state kinetics is a plus.


Qualifications include a recent Ph.D. in biochemistry, chemical biology, molecular biology, or a related

field and a strong interest in protein synthesis. Applicant must have a strong work ethic, communication &

organization skills, and a willingness to think about and learn new methodologies as the projects evolve.


Interested applicants should send a cover letter and CV with contact information for three references to

Barry Cooperman at cooprman@pobox.upenn.edu, (215) 898-6330.

News

Professor Nils Walter's Collegiate Professorship Lecture - Video

Dr. Nils Walter's Collegiate Professorship Lecture on May 8 discussed the opportunities that RNA will provide for us in the future.


In case you missed it, here is a recording.

Meetings

Interacademy Conference Wurzburg, Germany September 20-22, 2023

"Microbiology: from single cell to microbiome and host” on September 20-22, 2023 in Würzburg, Germany.


This conference on molecular microbiology will be organized by the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the Académie des sciences, the Royal Society, and the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.


Hosted by the University of Würzburg and supported by the Helmholtz Institute Würzburg and the Krupp Foundation, the 2-day conference is the sequel to several successful and exceptionally well-attended Interacademy meetings on the topic that were held in Paris (2014) and London (2016).


For further information, including the line-up of our 22 outstanding speakers, as well as the registration and abstract submission process, please visit the Microbiology Conference 2023 website


Register by: July 31, 2023 (without abstract: end of August 2023).


We can accommodate up to 250 participants, so please try to register early. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at stefanie.ziegler@helmholtz-hiri.de.

2023 RiboClub Annual Meeting: September 24-28

The RiboClub Annual Meeting aims at encouraging the exchange of ideas and stimulates collaborations between RNA biologists around the world. The meeting covers different topics related to the chemistry, structure and biology of RNA with emphasis on upcoming and debatable biological questions. In addition, every year the RiboClub puts the focus on a local or regional RNA group to highlight their efforts and introduce them to the international community.


The meeting format provides principal investigators the opportunity to present their point of views on the current state of knowledge and ignite the curiosity of young scientists. The meeting size and its format give ample opportunity for discussions and interactions, so bring your thinking hat to uncover the next big idea.


Registration fees are subsidized to encourage the participation of students and upcoming researchers. All laboratory members are invited to attend, listen to the presentations of leading scientists and participate in poster competition.


Annual Meeting September 24-28, 2023

Chéribourg Hotel, Orford, Quebec, Canada


Late Registration open through September

More Information: www.riboclub.org

Questions: riboclub@riboclub.org

ICBS 2023 Annual Conference | Ann Arbor, October 8-11

The International Chemical Biology Society (ICBS) 2023 annual conference will be Ann Arbor, October 8-11, 2023.

 

This is a great opportunity for University of Michigan students and postdocs to attend an international meeting without the travel costs. There is also going to be a pre-meeting trainee session on Oct 8.


For more information, email 2023ICBS@gmail.com


Learn more about joining ICBS.

International Conference on Nucleic Acid Immunity

October 26-28, 2023 | Dresden, Germany

The International Conference on Nucleic Acid Immunity, organized by the CRC/TRR237, will take place from October 26th to 28th, 2023 at the prestigious Deutsches Hygiene Museum in Dresden, Germany.


The conference aims to gather the world's top scientists to discuss the latest scientific advancements in the field. For further information, please visit our International Conference on Nucleic Acid Immunity website.


Registration is now open and involves the following steps:


  1. Create a ConfTool account for our conference
  2. Your account allows you to register and to submit an abstract.
  3. Submit an abstract before or after your registration (submission deadline July 30th, 2023). Submitting an abstract is optional and not required for registration. We are eager to hear about your work and will provide a digital abstract book for the conference.
  4. Register either as student (200€ | 300€), academic (350€ | 450€), or industry participant (800€ | 900€). The early bird registration period (first price) ends on September 17th. The late bird registration period (second price) ends on October 1st.


Conference Coordination: Bianca Weißbach (bianca.weissbach@ukdd.de)

Our members' publications are available through Altmetric. Queries are currently available: CRISPR, microRNA, molecule, RNA, RNA therapeutics, transcriptome, and translation.


Below are recent highlights.

Schroeder JW, Hurto RL, Randall JR, Wozniak KJ, Timko TA, Nye TM, Wang JD, Freddolino PL, Simmons LA. RNase H genes cause distinct impacts on RNA:DNA hybrid formation and mutagenesis genome-wide. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 May 8:2023.05.08.539860. doi: 10.1101/2023.05.08.539860. Update in: Sci Adv. 2023 Jul 28;9(30):eadi5945. PMID: 37214986; PMCID: PMC10197577. https://doi.org/10.1101/2023.05.08.539860

Xi J, Park SR, Lee JH, Kang HM. SiftCell: A robust framework to detect and isolate cell-containing droplets from single-cell RNA sequence reads. Cell Syst. 2023 Jul 19;14(7):620-628.e3. doi: 10.1016/j.cels.2023.06.002. PMID: 37473732; PMCID: PMC10411962. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cels.2023.06.002

Prensner JR, Abelin JG, Kok LW, Clauser KR, Mudge JM, Ruiz-Orera J, Bassani-Sternberg M, Moritz RL, Deutsch EW, van Heesch S, What can Ribo-seq, immunopeptidomics, and proteomics tell us about the non-canonical proteome?, Molecular & Cellular Proteomics (2023), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100631.

Wilinski, D., Dus, M. "N6-adenosine methylation controls the translation of insulin mRNA." Nat Struct Mol Biol (2023) https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-023-01048-x

Castillo RL, Sidhu I, Dolgalev I, Chu T, Prystupa A, Subudhi I, Yan D, Konieczny P, Hsieh B, Haberman RH, Selvaraj S, Shiomi T, Medina R, Girija PV, Heguy A, Loomis CA, Chiriboga L, Ritchlin C, Garcia-Hernandez ML, Carucci J, Meehan SA, Neimann AL, Gudjonsson JE, Scher JU, Naik S. Spatial transcriptomics stratifies psoriatic disease severity by emergent cellular ecosystems. Sci Immunol. 2023 Jun 8;8(84):eabq7991. doi: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abq7991. Epub 2023 Jun 2. PMID: 37267384. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciimmunol.abq7991

Save the Date!

2024 Symposium


8th Annual RNA Symposium, “Title TBA”

Friday, March 8, 2024, 8:30 am – 4:00 pm


University of Michigan - Central Campus

A. Alfred Taubman Biomedical Science Research Bldg, Kahn Auditorium

109 Zina Pitcher Pl

Ann Arbor, Michigan

To share your news and comments, please contact

rna-communications@umich.edu

Facebook  Twitter  Linkedin  Youtube