一、课题组简介
鲁志鹏博士现任南加州大学助理教授（加州洛杉矶市），曾获得Damon Runyon博士后奖以及核酸学会青年科学家奖 （RNA Society Scaringe Award）。我们实验室致力于发展新的化学与计算生物学方法，用于研究细胞内的核酸结构，相互作用，化学修饰，及其在生理条件下和疾病状态中的功能， 最终目标是开发新的靶向RNA的策略来治疗人类遗传病、癌症和病毒感染。近年来，我们开发了多种基于高通量测序的新技术，包括PARIS，SHARC，CRSSANT, 迄今为止在Cell（封面文章）, Genome Research, Genome Biology, Nature Communications，JACS Au 等顶级期刊上发表20多篇学术论文（参见代表性论文列表）。新的博士后研究员将在以下三个主要方向开展工作。我们也欢迎并支持与实验室当前工作大致相关的新想法。
1. 新发现的 RNA 修饰机制及其在生理和病理环境中的作用，包括干细胞、发育、癌症和神经系统疾病。我们也对细胞/动物模型的机制研究和临床前治疗开发感兴趣。
2. 使用我们最近开发的化学和计算工具 PARIS、SHARC 和 CRSSANT（参考下文）分析细胞内 ncRNA 相互作用网络。目前的研究重点是 snoRNA、tRNA 片段和 rRNA 片段。
3. 使用我们最近开发的化学和计算工具发现和分析 RNA 介导的宿主-病毒相互作用及其在先天免疫中的作用。我们在几种 RNA 病毒中发现了许多新的 RNA 相互作用机制 （包括冠状病毒）。
本实验室的研究使用各种跨学科的工具。除了我们发展的RNA 2D/3D 分析的化学和计算方法外，我们还使用各种 RNA 相关疾病的动物模型、iPS/类器官模型和人类患者样本。博士后将会接触到与RNA相关的各个领域前沿的问题和技术。这种培训环境对于有兴趣在学术界谋求职业或在制药行业担任科学领导职位的个人来说非常有价值。在我们的支持下，课题组的第一位博士后张敏杰已经于 2023 年在天津医科大学开设了自己的实验室。
二、应聘须知
应聘者应拥有或即将获得博士学位。基本专业包括但不限于分子生物学、遗传学、生物化学、生物信息学或化学生物学。我们尤其欢迎在各种测序方法和计算生物学方面有相关经验的人才。该职位的资助期限至少为四年，视绩效而定。工资水平参照南加州大学标准（2023年：$64800，高于NIH标准）。应聘者请将一封说明您对该职位感兴趣的求职信、您的简历以及三位推荐人的联系信息发送至 zhipengl@usc.edu。具体信息参见主页：http://zhipenglulab.org.
三、代表性论文
1.Velema* and Lu* 2023. JACS Au. Chemical RNA Cross-Linking: Mechanisms, Computational Analysis, and Biological Applications.
2.Zhang … Lu* 2022 Genome Research. Classification and clustering of RNA crosslink-ligation data reveal complex structures and homodimers.
3.Van Damme, …, Lu* and Velema*. 2022 Nature Comm. Chemical Reversible Crosslinking Enables Measurement of RNA 3D Distances and Alternative Conformations in Cells. Recommended by Faculty Opinions (https://facultyopinions.com/article/741670636).
4.Zhang … Lu*. 2021 Nature Comm. Optimized photochemistry enables analysis of dynamic RNA structuromes and interactomes in genetic and infectious diseases.
5.Lu* et al. 2020 Nature Comm. Structural modularity of the XIST ribonucleoprotein complex.
6.Lu et al. 2016 Cell. RNA duplex map in living cells reveals higher order transcriptome structure. Featured on the cover and in a paperclip of Cell, Youtube: Get an Eye-full (Eiffel), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GXibPeUUGQ, on the cover of “Best of Cell 2016”. Highlighted in Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, Molecular Cell, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Faculty Opinions and F1000Prime.
7.Lu et al. 2015 RNA. Metazoan tRNA introns generate stable circular RNAs in vivo. 21:1-12
8.Lu et al. 2014 Genome Biology. RIP-seq analysis of eukaryotic Sm proteins identifies three major categories of Sm-containing ribonucleoproteins.
Postdoctoral Positions:
RNA interactions and modification mechanisms in human diseases
Two NIH-funded postdoctoral positions are immediately available in Dr. Zhipeng Lu lab at USC Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, in Los Angeles, California. Our research is focused on in vivo RNA structures, interactions, and modification mechanisms. We develop and apply novel chemical and computational technologies to understand the structures and functions of RNA in basic cellular processes, with the ultimate goal of treating human diseases, including genetic disorders, cancers and viral infections. Recent studies include the development of several methods that enabled de novo discovery and modeling of RNA 2D/3D structures and interactions on a transcriptome wide scale in vivo, such as PARIS, SHARC, and CRSSANT, revealing new mechanisms in neurological disorders and infectious diseases.
1、The projects
We are recruiting postdoctoral fellows to work on the three major directions listed below. We also welcome and support novel and unconventional ideas that are broadly related to the current work in the lab.
1.Newly discovered RNA modification mechanisms and their roles in physiological and pathological contexts, including stem cell, development, cancer, and neurological disorders. We are interested in both mechanistic studies in cell/animal models and pre-clinical therapeutic development.
2.Discovery and functional analysis of cellular ncRNA interaction networks, using our recently developed chemical and computational tools, PARIS, SHARC and CRSSANT (refs below). Current focus is on snoRNAs, tRNA fragments, and rRNA fragments.
3.Discovery and functional analysis of RNA-mediated host-virus interactions, and their roles in innate immunity, using our recently developed chemical and computational tools. We have discovered a number of new RNA interaction mechanisms in several RNA viruses.
2、The lab
Research in the Lu lab is highly interdisciplinary and collaborative. In addition to our state-of-the-art methods and core computational and chemical expertise for in vivo RNA 2D/3D analysis, we also have animal models, iPS/organide models, and human patient samples for a variety of RNA-related diseases. Postdocs are exposed to research questions and techniques in the forefront of various fields centered on RNA. This training environment is exceptionally valuable for individuals who are interested in pursuing careers in academia or scientific leadership positions in the pharmaceutical industry. The first postdoc from our group has started his own lab in 2023 at Tianjin Medical University.
3、The candidate
Candidates should have or expect a Ph.D. and/or an M.D. and less than three years of postdoctoral experience. Candidates should also have significant experimental training in molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, or chemical biology, as evidenced by publications. Experience in various sequencing methods and computational biology is highly valued. The position is funded for at least four years, contingent on performance. To apply, please send a cover letter discussing your interests in the position, your CV, and contact information for three references to zhipengl@usc.edu. You can find additional information at www.zhipenglulab.org.
4、Selected recent publications
1.Velema* and Lu* 2023. JACS Au. Chemical RNA Cross-Linking: Mechanisms, Computational Analysis, and Biological Applications.
2.Zhang … Lu* 2022 Genome Research. Classification and clustering of RNA crosslink-ligation data reveal complex structures and homodimers.
3.Van Damme, …, Lu* and Velema*. 2022 Nature Comm. Chemical Reversible Crosslinking Enables Measurement of RNA 3D Distances and Alternative Conformations in Cells. Recommended by Faculty Opinions (https://facultyopinions.com/article/741670636).
4.Zhang … Lu*. 2021 Nature Comm. Optimized photochemistry enables analysis of dynamic RNA structuromes and interactomes in genetic and infectious diseases.
5.Lu* et al. 2020 Nature Comm. Structural modularity of the XIST ribonucleoprotein complex.
6.Lu et al. 2016 Cell. RNA duplex map in living cells reveals higher order transcriptome structure. Featured on the cover and in a paperclip of Cell, Youtube: Get an Eye-full (Eiffel), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GXibPeUUGQ, on the cover of “Best of Cell 2016”. Highlighted in Nature Methods, Nature Chemical Biology, Molecular Cell, Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Faculty Opinions and F1000Prime.
