Description
Postdoctoral Scholar – cell-cell fusion and muscle biology - Lu lab
The Lu Lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar to join our team.
Our laboratory is interested in understanding how cells remodel their internal structures to drive tissue growth, function, and regeneration. We focus particularly on the mechanisms of cell-cell fusion, using skeletal muscle as a primary model system. Our recent work has revealed how actin regulators spatiotemporally coordinate to generate invasive membrane protrusions that drive myoblast fusion (Lu et al., Nature Cell Biology, 2024, PMID: 39487253; Lu et al., eLife, 2026, PMID: 41608858). Building on these discoveries, we currently aim to uncover how the actin cytoskeleton, cellular metabolism, and organelles interact in space and time to regulate cell-cell fusion during muscle development and regeneration. To address these questions, we employ a multidisciplinary approach (high-resolution live-cell imaging, advanced microscopy, cell and molecular biology). For more information on our research, please visit: https://lu.lab.uiowa.edu
Candidates with the following qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply: 1) Demonstrated passion for scientific research with a Ph.D. (or Ph.D. candidates) in cell biology, molecular biology or related field, 2) first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals, 3) experiences in mammalian cell culture and molecular cloning, 4) expertise in skeletal muscle biology, confocal, super-resolution or electron microscopy.
To apply, please send:
1. Cover letter that describes your research background, career interests, and your motivation to apply.
2. Professional CV
3. Contact information for three references to yue-lu@uiowa.edu.
Requirements
Candidates with the following qualifications are strongly encouraged to apply: 1) Demonstrated passion for scientific research with a Ph.D. (or Ph.D. candidates) in cell biology, molecular biology or related field, 2) first-author publications in peer-reviewed journals, 3) experiences in mammalian cell culture and molecular cloning, 4) expertise in muscle biology, confocal, super-resolution or electron microscopy.
