Research Associate-Sun Lab

The Sun Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at Dallas (UT Dallas) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate protein aggregation and neurodegeneration using directly reprogrammed human neurons.

The Sun Lab focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases by developing and applying 3D direct neuronal reprogramming, an innovative approach that converts human skin fibroblasts directly into functional neurons in vitro. This technology enables the generation of patient-derived human neurons while preserving donor-specific genetic and age-related characteristics, providing a powerful platform for studying human neurodegenerative disease pathology in a dish (PMID: 39088624; PMID: 42270887). The Sun Lab is also affiliated with the Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases (CAND) at UT Southwestern Medical Center. For more information about the Sun Lab, please visit the Sun Lab website (https://labs.utdallas.edu/sunlab/).

This position is supported by a newly funded federal APAR-H award through the BIOGAMI program, with four years of funding (https://arpa-h.gov/explore-funding/programs/biogami). The project aims to investigate mechanisms of protein aggregation and develop approaches to target pathological protein aggregation in neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, etc.)

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work with cutting-edge human cellular models and multidisciplinary approaches to investigate protein aggregation, neuronal dysfunction, and neurodegeneration. The project offers substantial opportunities to develop expertise in human disease modeling, direct neuronal reprogramming, protein biochemistry, molecular and cellular neuroscience, and translational research. The position is fully funded through September 30, 2030, with opportunities for continued support through future projects, subject to funding availability.