Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Cellular Biology / Immunology / Genetics

Our group at the Heart Institute (InCor) of Hospital das Clínicas (HC) – the hospital complex run by the University of São Paulo's Medical School (FMUSP) in São Paulo city, Brazil – is focused on the pathogenesis of Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC), an endemic disease affecting millions of patients in Latin America. T cells from CCC patients display an increased production of Interferon-gamma that entails a reduction in the mitochondrial energy metabolism in the myocardium which can be induced by IFN-gamma itself. Rare pathogenic gene variants in mitochondrial and inflammatory genes segregate with CCC cases. We are interested in studying the synergy in mitochondrial damage caused by such genetic variants and the high IFN-gamma production in CCC heart tissue. Our group combines molecular/cell biology, immunology, genetics and bioenergetics methods.

The fellow will explore the pathophysiology of mitochondria and cytokines in CCC by performing functional studies with CRISPR-Cas9-gene edited cardiomyocyte and monocytic cell lines carrying the gene variants of interest, under the effect of IFN-γ and TNF-α. These studies include mitochondrial function and transcriptomic changes in cytokine-treated cardiomyocytes.

Position available immediately. To apply, please send an email with a motivation letter, CV and contact information of two references to Professor Edecio Cunha-Neto (edecunha@usp.br).

This opportunity is open to candidates of any nationality. The selected candidate will receive a Post-Doctoral fellowship from the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in the amount of R$ 9,047.40 monthly and a research contingency fund, equivalent to 10% of the annual value of the fellowship which should be spent on items directly related to the research activity. 

 

More information about the fellowship is at: fapesp.br/oportunidades/6908.