Career Center

A Postdoctoral Fellow position is available in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiac Developmental Biology. We are seeking a talented and self-motivated candidate with an interest in the areas of molecular biology and genomics. The Postdoctoral Fellow will work under the mentorship of Dr. Nathan VanDusen, and will receive training in a variety of cutting-edge functional genomics and genome editing techniques. Dr. VanDusen recently completed his training at Harvard University's Boston Children's Hospital, where he played a central role in developing novel technologies for in vivo studies of gene regulation during cardiac development. Highlights of Dr. VanDusen's contributions to the field include the following:

1) Development of a CRISPR-based somatic mutagenesis system, enabling rapid creation of loss-of-function models in mice.

2) Development and execution of the first CRISPR-based forward genetic screen in a mammalian heart, resulting in identification of novel transcriptional regulators of cardiomyocyte maturation.

3) Development of in vivo massively parallel reporter assays, enabling high-throughput quantification of genomic regulatory element activity in cardiomyocytes. Enhancers contributing to cardiomyocyte maturation, and their essential component motifs, were identified.

4) Development of a homology directed repair-based system for precise somatic genome editing in the mouse heart.

Future studies in the VanDusen lab will focus on utilizing these technical innovations to answer key questions related to the transcriptional regulation of cardiac development and disease. The application and intersection of these approaches presents an abundance of exciting opportunities for a motivated Postdoctoral Fellow. Several projects are already partially developed!

This is a three-year position, contingent upon satisfactory performance, with potential for extension beyond three years. Salary is commensurate with experience. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Lab-Specific Responsibilities:

Other requirements:

The Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research (http://www.wellscenter.iupui.edu/) has ongoing collaborative programs in molecular oncology and experimental therapeutics, cardiac developmental biology, diabetes, hematologic malignancies and stem cell biology, cardiovascular genetics and infectious disease and global health.

As the nation's largest medical school, IUSM is committed to being an institution that not only reflects the diversity of the learners we teach and the patient populations we serve, but also pursues the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that inform academic excellence. We desire candidates who enhance our representational diversity, as well as those whose work contributes to equitable and inclusive learning and working environments for our students, staff, and faculty. IUSM strives to take an anti-racist stance, regularly evaluating and updating its policies, procedures, and practices to confer equitable opportunities for contribution and advancement for all members of our community. We invite individuals who will join us in our mission to advance racial equity to transform health and wellbeing for all throughout the state of Indiana.

Doctorate or terminal degree required in science or related field
3+ years of molecular biology experience

Experience in mouse husbandry, transcriptional regulation, cardiac biology, next-gen sequencing, bioinformatics, CRISPR genome editing, or AAV vectors will be given preference. 

Nathan VanDusen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

nvanduse@iu.edu