Research Opportunity in Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Professor Jung-Chi Liao’s Lab in the Mechanical Engineering Department at Columbia University is working on the new burgeoning field of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). iPSC reprogramming has advanced stem cell biology and regenerative medicine, and has demonstrated tremendous potential in disease modeling, cell therapy, and drug discovery. The ability to reprogram any adult somatic cells back into stem cells using the addition of only four genes opens the doors for many exciting therapeutic applications. This method allows the generation of patient-specific stem cells that can be differentiated into all cell types, while avoiding the controversial ethical issues surrounding embryonic stem cells.
Our lab is interested in studying the molecular pathways involved in this process of reprogramming. We aim to identify important transcription factors and signaling pathways crucial to the process to help better understand the specifics of reprogramming and to better control it for clinical use. We are looking for bright and motivated students for the reprogramming research. Research credits may be arranged.
Interested applicants who can commit at least 12 hours per week during the semester should send their resumes to: jcliao@columbia.edu and one or two paragraphs on why you are interested in this position and what you might contribute to our lab.
Jung-Chi
