The University of Virginia Department of Cell Biology seeks a postdoctoral research associate with the Laurie La b to develop a CryoEM model of the lacritin receptor complex.  Lacritin is a neuroregenerative autophagy agonist in plasma, CSF and tears with a remarkable capacity to restore epithelial and neuronal homeostasis in the context of inflammation, or stress from Huntingtin mutant protein overexpression.  We discovered and named lacritin out of an unbiased biochemical screen (Sanghi et al, J Mol Biol '01).  This project builds on characterization studies (including J Cell Biol '06a; J Cell Biol '06b; J Biol Chem '13a; J Biol Chem '13b; J Biol Chem '21) and on UVA’s state-of-the-art CryoEM core facility.  The complex couples two key elements: (i) a novel 'off/on' switch involving heparanase deglycanation of 'syndecan-1', and (ii) the GPCR 'GPR87', the latter discovered out of our CRISPR/Cas9 genome-wide screen.  Lacritin also interacts with the cooling sensor 'TRPM8', a possible third element.  This work has led to the founding of two companies - one now with a successfully completed phase 2 trial, and with FDA approval for subsequent trials.  The lab is supported by two NIH R01 grants through to 2026.  'For 2023, the University is ranked the No. 3 best public university by U.S. News and World Report . In the 18 years since U.S. News  began ranking public universities as a separate category, UVa has ranked in the Top 30 among the best of all national universities, public and private.'  The successful applicant will be seeking their first Postdoctoral position, have qualifications appropriate for independent NIH postdoctoral funding, and has published in excellent journals. 

Minimum Requirements
Education : Doctoral degree
 

Physical Demands
This is primarily a sedentary job involving extensive use of desktop computers. The job does occasionally require traveling some distance to attend meetings, and programs.

Application Instructions

Please apply through Workday and complete an application online. Include the following documents:

• a CV/resume

• a Cover Letter

• contact information for 3 references

All documents can be loaded into the resume submission field, multiple documents can be submitted into this one field. Internal applicants must apply through their UVA Workday profile.

For questions about the position please contact Gordon Laurie, PhD at gwl6s@virginia.edu . For questions about and assistance with the application process, please contact Margaret Weeks , Academic Recruiter at mew7ys@virginia.edu. Before a formal offer of employment is extended, the selected candidate will undergo a background check per university policy. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 

COVID Vaccination Requirement and Guidelines

Please visit the UVA COVID-19 Job Requirements and Guidelines  webpage prior to applying for current information regarding vaccination requirements?and?guidelines for employment at UVA.

The University of Virginia, i ncluding the UVA Health System which represents the UVA Medical Center, Schools of Medicine and Nursing, UVA Physician’s Group and the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, are fundamentally committed to the diversity of our faculty and staff.  We believe diversity is excellence expressing itself through every person's perspectives and lived experiences.  We are equal opportunity and affirmative action employers. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, veteran status, and family medical or genetic information.