Postdoctoral Positions in Neurodegeneration and Cancer

The laboratory of Professor Xiaolu Yang at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania is seeking highly motivated postdoctoral researchers to join our interdisciplinary and collaborative team. Our research aims to elucidate fundamental mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and cancer, with current projects focused on two primary areas:

1. Protein quality control, aging, and neurodegenerative diseases
We have identified two previously unrecognized protein quality control (PQC) systems involving tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins and poly-Asp/Glu (polyD/E) proteins. These systems operate independently of ATP and exhibit distinct evolutionary conservation—TRIM proteins in animals and polyD/E proteins across eukaryotes—thereby distinguishing them from established PQC mechanisms. Ongoing work seeks to define their molecular mechanisms, elucidate their roles in aging and neurodegenerative diseases (including Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS), and explore their potential as targets for therapeutic intervention.

2. Tumor suppression, metabolism, and autophagy
Our research examines the regulatory mechanisms and functional roles of the tumor suppressor p53, with a focus on its control of metabolic pathways essential for biosynthesis and redox balance. We investigate how p53 integrates metabolic cues by functioning as both a sensor and regulator of cellular metabolism. In parallel, we seek to identify metabolic alterations that drive tumor initiation and progression. This work has recently expanded to examine how metabolism and autophagy influence the biology of embryonic and cancer stem cells.

For more information about our research, please see the following publications and website: 

Science 381: eadd6696 (2023) PMID: 37499037

Science Advances 8: eabo0404 (2022) PMID: 35857842

Nature 597: 132-137 (2021) PMID: 34408321

Nature Cell Biology 23: 978–991 (2021) PMID: 34497368

Cell Metabolism 33: 94-109 (2021) PMID: 33159852

Science 369: 397-403 (2020) PMID: 32703873

Cell Reports 33: 108418 (2020) PMID: 33264628

Nature Communications 11: 348 (2020) PMID: 31953436

Nature Communications 10: 1495 (2019) PMID: 30940803

Nature Communications 9: 4683 (2018) PMID: 30409970

Nature Communications 9: 1223 (2018) PMID: 29581427

Cell Reports 18: 3143-3154 (2017) PMID: 28355566

Molecular Cell 55: 15-30 (2014) (Cover Article) PMID: 24882209

Nature 493: 689-693 (2013) PMID: 23334421

Nature Cell Biology 15: 991-1000 (2013) (Cover Article) PMID: 23811687

Nature Cell Biology 13: 310-316 (2011) (Cover Article) PMID: 21336310

Molecular Cell 37: 668-678 (2010) (Cover Article) PMID: 20227371

Lab website: https://www.med.upenn.edu/apps/faculty/index.php/g275/p20138

Qualifications

Applicants should hold a recently awarded PhD or MD degree, or be nearing completion, and demonstrate a strong publication record, rigorous experimental skills, and relevant research experience in areas including biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, metabolism, stem cell biology, neuroscience, cancer biology, or animal models.

How to Apply

Please email a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to Professor Xiaolu Yang at [email protected]. The cover letter should briefly describe research interests, key skills, and preferred start date.

About the University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania (Penn), founded in the 1740s by Benjamin Franklin, is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. It is globally recognized for excellence in education, research, and innovation. Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine—the nation’s oldest medical school—is consistently ranked among the top worldwide. Located in Philadelphia, a historic and culturally vibrant city, Penn’s urban campus offers access to exceptional educational, cultural, and recreational opportunities.