The Wang lab has several openings for research assistants in the Department of Molecular & Systems Biology at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College.
They are looking for highly motivated individuals with an interest in both basic and translational biomedical research, particularly in cancer epigenetics. They welcome individuals with degrees in basic molecular biology, biomedical engineering, bioinformatics, or computer science.
The Wang lab is interested in studying the function of a family of chromatin remodeling complexes, particularly the SWI/SNF (mBAF) complex, which is mutated in more than 20% of human cancers. Their previous work found that the SWI/SNF complex plays a critical role in regulating chromatin structure and gene expression, with individual subunits playing unique roles in different cancer types (Nature Genetics, 2017; Nature Communications, 2017; Molecular Cell, 2017). In addition, using high-throughput genome-wide loss-of-function CRISPR screens, they have found that SWI/SNF mutations create specific dependencies in cancer (Nature Medicine 2015; Cancer Cell, 2015), supporting potential therapeutic benefits. Based on these findings, they are using cancer cell line modeling systems combined with molecular, cellular, biochemical, and bioinformatical approaches to:
- understand the assembly of the SWI/SNF complex and how this collectively controls targeting of the complex on chromatin;
- investigate the role of the SWI/SNF complex in controlling chromatin regulatory elements, particularly enhancers, as well as identifying key co-regulating factors;
- identify specific cancer dependencies created by SWI/SNF complex mutations and study the underlying mechanism.
Research Assistant applicants should send a brief statement of research experience and/or interest along with their CV to: Xiaofeng.Wang@Dartmouth.edu