GRADUATE AND POST-DOCTORAL RESEARCH IN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

Positions are available for research into the control of growth or the mechanisms of neural cell fate specification, using Drosophila melanogaster to identify and characterize novel genes. Areas of current research include:

1. The mechanisms of cell cycle exit and relationship to differentiation. Terminal differentiation is often associated with permanent cell cycle exit. Prior work has identified cells in the Drosophila retina whose differentiation and cell cycle withdrawal both depend on the Egf receptor. These seem to be separable events, because cell cycle withdrawal can occur without differentiation when the pathway is partly inhibited. We would like to understand the basis of cell cycle withdrawal by terminally differentiating cells, how to reverse it, and what the consequences are for differentiation.

2. The mechanisms of cell fate specification. Cell fates are generally determined by extracellular signaling pathways. Fates become fixed when cells become insensitive to these signals and henceforth continue to differentiate regardless of changes in the extracellular environment. Although much has been learned about how extracellular signals induce cells to take different fates, little is known about why cells cease to respond once they are specified. What is the molecular basis for the independence of specified cells from instructive signals?

3. Glycosylation of the receptor protein Notch. Many cell fates are prevented by activity of a receptor protein called Notch, so that fate specification generally requires inactivity of this receptor. Notch and its ligands are widely distributed, and it has been unclear why there would ever be any cells where N was not active. In the Drosophila retina, where N is inactive can be altered by alterations in glycosylation of the Notch extracellular domain. This suggests there might be a carbohydrate code that determines where extracellular proteins will interact with Notch and where fate specification will occur.

4. Control of organ size and shape. How is the growth of organs controlled so that they achieve the proper size and shape? In addition to controlling fate specification, extracellular signals must locally activate or arrest the cell division cycle, programmed cell death, cellular growth or morphogenetic movements. To try to identify the signals that act on these processes in vivo, we are studying ganaes and mutations that affect growth in vivo.

Graduate student positions leading to the PhD degree are available for both US citizens and non-citizens. Please send a preliminary enquiry to nicholas.baker@einstein.yu.edu. Formal applications must be made through BioMedCas, following procedures described at their website:
https://www.einstein.yu.edu/education/phd/prospective-students/admissions.aspx

Suitable postdoctoral applicants will have research interests in developmental signalling pathways, the nervous system, or in the developmental control of cell proliferation and cell death. Salary will be on the NIH scale (currently $35,568-$51,036 according to experience, plus benefits). PhD or equivalent in related biological discipline and publication record preferred.
E-mail application to nicholas.baker@einstein.yu.edu

The Albert Einstein College of Medicine is located in a residential suburb of New York City, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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