Postdoctoral Fellow - Tumor Viruses, RNA Biology of Virus Infection and Tumorigenesis

Two postdoctoral positions are available with a starting stipend of $65,100 in the Tumor Virus RNA Biology Section, HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, to perform basic research on DNA tumor viruses (papillomavirus and Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus). This includes studies on genome structure, integration and expression, RNA splicing and post-transcriptional regulation of viral and host RNA transcripts, noncoding RNAs and nonsense-mediated RNA decay, and protein-RNA and RNA-RNA interactions in virus infection and tumorigenesis.

Our overall goal is to understand how DNA tumor viruses interact with host factors in infected cells to express their essential genes at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. We aim to further understand how these viruses are responsible for disrupting the host cell functions, promoting cell transformation and clonal expansion. We are using state-of-the-art high-throughput technologies, various high-resolution imaging techniques, in vivo and in vitro RNA processing assays, gene knockouts and rescue experiments in mammalian cells, and transgenic animal models to gain new insights into the mechanisms and dynamics of DNA tumor virus molecular biology. A brief description of these studies and related publications can be found at https://ccr.cancer.gov/staff-directory/zhi-ming-zheng

Applicants must have a strong background in molecular virology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and/or RNA biology. Interested candidates must have a Ph.D. and/or an M.D. and have less than 5 years of relevant postdoctoral experience. This is a time-limited, renewable appointment.

The NIH is dedicated to building a community in its training and employment programs and encourages the application and nomination of qualified women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities.