Postdoctoral Fellow- Kinney Lab

Justin B. Kinney and Adrian R. Krainer seek a postdoctoral fellow to spearhead a project focused on quantitative signal integration in alternative mRNA splicing. This position is part of an ongoing collaboration between the Kinney Lab and Krainer Lab, the goal of which is to quantitatively understand the readout of pre-mRNA sequence by snRNPs and RBPs, as well as the effects of splice-modifying drugs. The successful candidate will be expected to help design their project’s aims, lead the necessary experimental work, and carry out the primary computational analysis of the resulting data. These studies will primarily focus on splicing in human cell culture and/or in vitro splicing reactions, and will involve a combination of both low-throughput and high-throughput techniques, including massively parallel reporter assays (MPRAs). Novel experimental techniques will be developed as needed.

Both the Kinney Lab and Krainer Lab are situated on the beautiful main campus of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). CSHL is a world-renowned non-profit research institution that is home to eight Nobel Prize winners and consistently ranks among the world’s top institutions in research impact per scientist. Members of the CSHL community benefit from the vibrant Meetings and Courses program, which hosts leading conferences in many biological disciplines. CSHL is located on the north shore of Long Island and is readily accessible from New York City via the Long Island Rail Road.

The Kinney Lab develops experimental, computational, and mathematical approaches for deciphering the biophysical mechanisms of gene regulation. The primary biological goal of their research is to quantitatively understand the mechanisms of alternative mRNA splicing, as well as the effects of splice-modifying drugs for treating human disease. Their experimental work centers on the use of MPRAs, a technology that Dr. Kinney and his lab have pioneered and continue to advance. They also develop machine learning approaches, including deep learning strategies, for extracting quantitative models of sequence-function relationships from MPRA datasets and for interpreting these models in terms of underlying biophysical mechanisms. Please visit http://kinneylab.cshl.edu/ for more information.

The Krainer Lab has pioneered the mechanistic study of alternative mRNA splicing as well as the development of splice-modifying therapeutics for treating disease. In addition to discovering the first alternative splicing factor (SRSF1), Dr. Krainer and his lab developed nusinersen (Spinraza®), the first FDA-approved drug for correcting a splicing defect. Dr. Krainer is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and has received numerous awards, including the 2019 Breakthrough Prize and 2021 Wolf Prize. His lab continues to pursue fundamental mechanistic studies of alternative mRNA splicing, as well as develop antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics for treating a wide range of diseases. Please visit https://www.cshl.edu/research/faculty-staff/adrian-r-krainer/ for more information.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is a world-renowned biomedical research institution in New York. It has shaped contemporary biomedical research and is the home of eight Nobel Prize laureates. Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory provides a highly dynamic and interactive research environment and also a unique opportunity of timely exposure to advances in various biomedical research fields and of interaction with a broad range of researchers from all over the world through its renowned Meetings and Courses program.

CSHL believes that science is for everyone. We have had researchers with a variety of backgrounds and believe in the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Position Requirements

Candidates must have (or soon receive) a PhD in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Genetics, Bioengineering, Biophysics, or related field. Candidates must also have a track record of successful experimental work and computational data analysis, as well as one or more first-author research publications and/or pre-prints in the field of RNA processing. Candidates should have strong written and oral communication skills, the ability to navigate and synthesize relevant research literature, and the ability to develop and troubleshoot new experimental approaches when needed. Familiarity with mammalian cell culture, in vitro splicing reactions, the computational analysis of biological sequence data, public genomic databases, and Python programming is a plus.

For immediate consideration, please apply to Position 03307-R found here: https://cshl.peopleadmin.com/postings/20208

Our employees are compensated from a total rewards perspective in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, and a range of recognition and wellness programs. Visit our CSHL Benefits & Postdoctoral Landing sites to learn more.

You are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition to your employment at the Laboratory. You will be required to provide proof of your vaccination on your first day of employment. For those individuals who are unable to receive a vaccine due to access issues, they will be expected to receive the vaccine upon arrival in New York.

CSHL is an EO/AA Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status. VEVRAA Federal Contractor