Research Project:Obesity and Cardio-Metabolic Complications Project Team

Location: Nanjing – China

Salary：Competitive, Dependent upon experience

Hours: Full-time

Contract Period: 2 years

We have an exciting Research Associate position (Post-Doctoral) opening available for a mouse physiologist to work on the project “Obesity-related metabolic complications: pathogenesis, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic targets” in the laboratory of Prof. Vidal-Puig/Dr Rodriguez-Cuenca at the Cambridge University Nanjing Centre Technology and Innovation in Nanjing.This position is in close partnership with Prof. Chen Shuai, from the Model Animal Research Centre (MARC) of Nanjing University. This post will be based in Nanjing but will require close contact with our laboratory in Cambridge.

For further information about the programme, please contact Prof. Vidal-Puig (ajv22@medschl.cam.ac.uk), or Dr Rodriguez Cuenca (sr441@medschl.cam.ac.uk).

To apply, please email a CV and covering letter, including a list of publications, to cunjchr@cunjc.org.cn

Our web at in Cambridge.

https://www.TVPlab-cambridge.com

https://www.mrl.ims.cam.ac.uk/research/principal-investigators/antonio-vidal-puig/

https://www.tvplab-cambridge.com/src

Project Introduction:

With the continuous improvement of the quality of life, obesity has become the focus of the general public's attention. Understanding the pathogenesis of obesity can significantly help researchers understand the causes of obesity and find effective treatments. We aim to investigate the control mechanisms of adipose tissue plasticity and function to inform and implement strategies against obesity-related metabolic complications. Improving the plasticity and function of adipose tissue can prevent/reverse the ectopic accumulation of lipids in peripheral organs others than adipose tissue (lipotoxicity) and reduce the risk of diabetes and other complications including fatty liver (NAFLD). Thus, the project will study the effect of obesity on the hepatic lipid network that causes fatty liver (NAFLD). The quantity and the quality of the lipids accumulated in the liver determine liver inflammation and fibrosis associated with obesity, thus controlling fatty liver (NAFLD) to liver inflammation and fibrosis (NASH). Understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of NASH will help identify high-risk individuals suffering from the disease and provide new therapeutical targets against the disease.

Job Description:

1. Closely work with the research team of Cambridge University in the UK to plan and conduct research work daily to the highest of research standards at Cambridge University Nanjing Centre of Technology and Innovation.

2. Generate and analyze data for presentations, reports and research publications.

3. Maintain excellent research plans and research records.

4. Take a leading role in the experimental design and grant applications.

5. Assist with the general running and organization of the research laboratories and the maintenance of metabolic phenotypic equipment.

6. Conduct relevant training on metabolic phenotyping and obesity/ neurobiology research techniques.

7. Assist in the supervision of PhD projects in the laboratory.

Job Requirement:

(Essential)

1. PhD in a relevant subject area such as Physiology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, and Molecular Biology.

2. Background in metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular system and molecular biology.

3. Familiar with metabolic research methods in live rodent models (e.g. mice) and critical technologies in this field, with metabolic phenotypic experience and knowledge of metabolic equipment.

4. Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.

5. Ability to plan/design experimental workload according to the needs of both animal studies and bench based approaches.

6. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

7. Experience and ability to independently write papers/ reports and grant proposals in English.

8. Ability to think critically and creatively.

9. Ability to work to tight deadlines.

10. Highly motivated, ambitious and with a flexible mindset.

（Preferred）

1. Experience/ability to teach.

2. Experience/ ability to obtain research funding.

3. Ability to supervise the use and maintenance of specialized lab equipment.

4. Ability to communicate in Mandarin.

Others:

1. We will provide successful candidates with ample opportunities for personal development and training, being connected with the world-class scientific community in the UK (including but not limited to the Wellcome Trust MRC Institute for Metabolic Science and the Sanger Institute), benefitting from interaction with UK scientists. Moreover, direct collaboration with experimental scientists offers the unique possibility of being involved in murine metabolic phenotyping in the context of obesity and associated cardiometabolic complications.

2. There will be occasional requirements to work outside regular working hours.

3. There will be travel needs to present results at conferences or scientific meetings and would be expected to visit Cambridge once or twice a year.