The Beaudoin lab is actively recruiting

The Beaudoin lab is currently building its team! The lab will open in January 2020 and it is your chance to become an active and important member of this new exciting team. We aim to build a diverse and collaborative team where each individual brings something different and has room to grow scientifically and professionally. If you want to share your passion for science with Jean-Denis and the rest of the team, you are more than welcome to apply for a position in our group. We are particularly looking to recruit a research technician, multiple postdocs, and graduate students. Funding for our open positions is available from our start-up, NIH funding and Tao Rising Stars Award.

Open Positions

If you have questions about any of these positions, please email Jean-Denis.

Postdoctoral Fellow in RNA Biology and Zebrafish Development

Beaudoin Lab
Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health
Farmington, Connecticut

The Beaudoin Laboratory at UConn Health is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Fellow to join our research team and lead projects investigating the relationship between RNA structure and function during zebrafish development.

Our lab studies how RNA structure shapes post-transcriptional gene regulation in vertebrate systems, with particular interests in RNA G-quadruplexes, translation control, RNA helicases, and other RNA-binding factors. We combine zebrafish developmental biology, RNA molecular biology, genomics, genome engineering, and computational approaches to uncover how RNA structural elements influence gene expression and developmental outcomes.

This position is supported by the Tao Rising Stars Award and offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious scientist to develop an independent research direction within a collaborative and intellectually engaged environment. The successful candidate will help drive projects focused on identifying and characterizing regulatory RNA structures in vivo, defining their molecular mechanisms, and determining how they influence embryonic gene expression and vertebrate development.

Responsibilities

The postdoctoral fellow will:

• Design and execute independent research projects on RNA structure and post-transcriptional regulation during zebrafish development
• Apply and/or develop molecular, genomic, and computational approaches to study RNA structure-function relationships in vivo
• Generate, analyze, and interpret high-throughput datasets related to gene expression, translation, and RNA structure
• Draw rigorous conclusions from experimental results and propose logical next steps
• Contribute to manuscript preparation, presentations, and grant-related activities
• Participate actively in lab meetings, scientific discussions, and brainstorming
• Work collaboratively with other lab members and contribute to a positive, team-oriented research environment

Required Qualifications

Applicants should have:

• A PhD in molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics, genomics, developmental biology, RNA biology, computational biology, or a closely related field
• A strong interest in RNA biology, post-transcriptional gene regulation, and vertebrate development
• Demonstrated ability to independently design experiments, carry out research, analyze data, and communicate conclusions
• Strong organizational skills, scientific rigor, and attention to detail
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work both independently and as a collaborative team member

Preferred Qualifications

Competitive candidates will have expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• RNA structure biology or RNA structure probing
• RNA G-quadruplexes
• Zebrafish embryology, genetics, microinjection, or genome engineering
• Genomics and high-throughput approaches to study gene expression, such as RNA-seq, Ribo-seq, massively parallel reporter assays, or related methods
• Computational analysis of large genomic datasets, including proficiency in R, Python, or similar tools
• RNA-binding proteins, RNA helicases, or related mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation

Candidates with a combination of experimental and computational expertise are especially encouraged to apply. This profile is particularly well aligned with the Beaudoin lab’s interdisciplinary research program in RNA structure, translation regulation, and genome-wide analysis.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary starts at $63,500+, with higher compensation depending on experience and expertise
• The position includes paid benefits
• UConn Health postdoctoral fellows are employees and, according to the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, receive benefits that include:
  • health insurance
  • retirement contributions
  • paid leave
  • sick leave

Research Environment

UConn Health provides a collegial and stimulating postdoctoral environment with strong research infrastructure and access to an active intellectual community.

The Beaudoin lab is part of the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences at UConn Health in Farmington, Connecticut, where trainees benefit from a multidisciplinary research setting and close interactions across genetics, genomics, RNA biology, and developmental biology.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit:

• A cover letter describing their research interests and relevant experience
• A curriculum vitae
• Contact information for three references

Please combine all application materials into a single PDF and email it to jdbeaudoin@uchc.edu.

Equal Opportunity Statement

UConn is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants and to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace. Applicants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations during the application and hiring process.

Check out our new digs!

In January 2020, the Beaudoin moved into the award winning, newly renovated, and state-of-the-art Cell and Genome Sciences Building at UConn Health. Here, the lab joined the rest of the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences. We’re excited to expand the lab in this engaging and multi-disciplinary research home.

Advantages of joining our community

Why UConn Health?

UConn Health is located in Farmington, Connecticut. It is a resourceful and stimulating place to do research. UConn Health views research as a primary path to expanding the successes of modern medicine. Supporting this view, it actively invests money and support for basic research on campus. Particular strengths of its basic research programs include structural biology, cell analysis and modeling, musculoskeletal biology, biomaterials, immunotherapies, stem cells and regenerative medicine. It is composed of 19 departments that range from Cell Biology to Neuroscience offering a multidisciplinary environment with a lot of learning potential. UConn Health offers a Ph.D. program in Biomedical Science, which offers a personalized training in various biomedical research fields.

The recent addition of Jackson Laboratory to its campus has added strength to the areas of genetics and genomic sciences. The Jackson Laboratory and the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences share multiple activities and faculty members, strengthening collaborations and favoring interactions.

Why the Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences?

The Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences is located in a start-of-the-art Cell and Genome Sciences Building with open lab space and multiple lounge areas to favor interactions. Its research strengths include RNA biology, developmental biology, signal transduction, and the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of gene regulation. It is continually increasing external funding for its current research programs, enhancing the national and international reputation of its faculty and their research, and recruiting outstanding faculty members with new and complementary areas of research expertise. It also have a close working relationship with the Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine (JAX-GM), and most JAX-GM faculty have academic appointments in our department. The department has access to leading edge scientific cores offering a wide array of resources and services. Among others, the Stem Cell Core, the Microscopy facility, Computational Biology Core, High Performance Computing Core, and Human Genome Editing Core particularly align with our research interests.

Why the Greater Hartford area?

UConn Health is located in the Connecticut town of Farmington and is part of the Greater Hartford area, which hosts various festivals throughout the year and is home to a diverse restaurant and leisure sceneries. It offers outstanding local recreation areas offer camping, hiking, horseback riding, canoeing, tubing, skiing, golfing as well as fresh and salt water beaches to stay connected with the outdoors. It is also home to multiple professional sport teams in addition to the nationally ranked University of Connecticut basketball, football and soccer teams. Its prime location makes it easy to enjoy day trip at either New York City or Boston, both city reachable within a two-hour car ride or by train. Click here for more information on this unique and exciting area.