Open Postdoctoral position, faculty mentor Douglas Vollrath

We have an open postdoctoral position to investigate cell-cell interactions in the context of mitochondrial dysfunction in the outer retina. We strive to gain insight into pathogenic mechanisms relevant to retinal degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. We use mouse and cell culture models to study glial-like retinal retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and their interactions with photoreceptors and other cell types. We perturb RPE function in vivo genetically or with drugs/chemicals and characterize the resulting retinal phenotypes on levels ranging from metabolic/molecular to structural/morphological. We use a variety of methods including single cell RNAseq, heavy isotope labeling of metabolites, Seahorse analysis of oxygen consumption and glycolysis, immunofluorescence, electroretinography, optical coherence tomography and fundus photography. A recent example of our work is PMID: 38865272. This is an NIH-funded position in the Department of Genetics , a collaborative, intellectually exciting and multidisciplinary environment known for research excellence. Candidates experienced with mice, mammalian cell culture and molecular biology are particularly desirable. Per Stanford University policy, the successful candidate will start no more than three years after receiving their doctoral degree.