Postdoctoral Researcher

The laboratory of Dr. Shasha Chong in the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA, is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral research fellow. The Chong Lab studies the interaction behaviors and functions of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs), including their phase separation behaviors. We are interested in understanding how IDPs play roles in transcriptional regulation and other processes in mammalian cells in the context of physiology and disease, including different forms of cancer. We use highly interdisciplinary approaches in our research, including quantitative single-cell and single-molecule imaging, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, genetics, proteomics, and bioinformatics.

The postdoctoral fellow will have the opportunity to participate in diverse projects and collaborate with labs in and outside Caltech. Applicants with interest are welcome to explore the selected works published by the Chong Lab and by Dr. Shasha Chong before coming to Caltech. (†Corresponding author. *Equal contribution. **Equal contribution)

• Chong, S.*; Chen, C.*; Ge, H.; Xie, X. S. (2014) “Mechanism of Transcriptional Bursting in Bacteria” Cell, 158, 314-326.
• Chong, S.; Dugast-Darzacq, C.; Liu, Z.; Dong, P.; Dailey, G. M.; Cattoglio, C.; Heckert, A.; Banala, S.; Lavis, L.; Darzacq, X.; Tjian, R. (2018) “Imaging Dynamic and Selective Low-Complexity Domain Interactions That Control Gene Transcription” Science, 361, eaar2555. 
• Chong, S.; Graham, T. G. W.; Dugast-Darzacq, C.; Dailey, G. M.; Darzacq, X.; Tjian, R. (2022) "Tuning levels of low-complexity domain interactions to modulate endogenous oncogenic transcription" Molecular Cell, 82, 2084-2097.
• Irgen-Gioro, S.*; Yoshida, S. R.*; Walling, V.; Chong, S.† (2022) "Fixation can change the appearance of phase separation in living cells" eLife, 11, e79903. 
• Wang, X. Q. D.*; Fan, D.*; Han, Q.*; Liu, Y.*; Miao, H.; Wang, X.; Li, Q.; Chen, D.; Gore, H.; Himadewi, P.; Pfeifer, G. P.; Cierpicki, T.; Grembecka, J.; Su, J.; Chong, S.† ; Wan, L.†; Zhang, X.† (2023) "Mutant NPM1 hijacks transcriptional hub to maintain pathogenic gene programs in acute myeloid leukemia" Cancer Discovery, 13, 724-745.
• Chen, L.**†; Zhang, Z.**; Han, Q.*; Maity, B. K.*; Rodrigues, L.; Zboril, E.; Adhikari, R.; Ko, S-H.; Li, X.; Yoshida, S. R.; Xue, P.; Smith, E.; Xu, K., Wang, Q.; Huang, T. H-M.; Chong, S.†; Liu, Z.† (2023) "Hormone-induced enhancer assembly requires an optimal level of hormone receptor multivalent interactions" Molecular Cell, 83, 3438-3456.
• Yoshida, S. R.; Chong, S.† (2024) "Single-molecule measurement of protein interaction dynamics within biomolecular condensates" Journal of Visualized Experiments, 203, e66169.

More information about research in the Chong Lab can be found on the lab website: https://www.schonglab.com.

Qualifications:

The applicant must have received, or be scheduled to receive, a Ph.D. in biochemistry, molecular biology, cell biology, biophysics, bioengineering, chemistry, or other related fields by the start of the appointment. A strong record of research productivity is required. Expertise in molecular cloning is required. Previous experience in one or more of the following techniques/fields is strongly preferred: protein purification, CRISPR-mediated genome-editing, proteomics, single-molecule microscopy, functional genomics, and gene regulation.

How to apply:

Interested applicants should email Dr. Shasha Chong (schong@caltech.edu) a CV and a description of past research experience and future research interests. Following an initial screening of these application materials, appropriate candidates will be contacted by email for letters of reference. Review of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.