Postdoctoral researcher in neurodegenerative disease and cancer

Job description

Description The laboratory of Professor Xiaolu Yang at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our dynamic and interdisciplinary team. Our work investigates the fundamental mechanisms that drive neurodegenerative disease and cancer, with current projects centered around two major research areas: 1. Protein quality control, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases Our laboratory has discovered two previously unrecognized protein quality control (PQC) systems involving tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins and poly-Asp/Glu (polyD/E) proteins. These pathways function independently of ATP and exhibit distinct evolutionary conservation—TRIM in animals and polyD/E across eukaryotes—setting them apart from established PQC mechanisms. Ongoing work aims to define their molecular mechanisms, elucidate their contributions to aging and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS), and explore their potential for therapeutic intervention. 2. Tumor suppression, metabolism, and autophagy We examine the regulatory mechanisms and functional roles of the tumor suppressor p53, with emphasis on its control of meta...