Postdoctoral position in renal biology

Job content

Introduction
UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.
Presentation
Hypertension is the most common disease in the human population, affecting over 1 billion individuals worldwide, and one of the major treatable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases including stroke, myocardial infarcts, heart and kidney failure. Although sodium was for a longtime the primary focus of research, growing evidence suggests that Cl- is equally important. The focus of our research concerns the salt handling by the kidney, which critically affects blood pressure. In this context, the aldosterone- sensitive distal nephron (ASDN) that includes the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), the connecting tubule (CNT), and the collecting duct (CD), precisely tunes the sodium balance of the blood by regulating transepithelial sodium transport via a number of Na+ transporting proteins, including the thiazide- sensitive Na+,Cl--cotransporter (NCC) in the DCT and the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC) in the DCT/CNT/CD. Research in our laboratory has provided strong in vivo and in vitro evidence that the primary pathways controlling these systems involve both ubiquitylation and phosphorylation.
Job information
Expected start date in position : 1.12.2021 or as agreed

Contract length : 1 year, renewable 1 x 2 years, maximum 3 years

Activity rate : 100%

Workplace : Department of Biomedical Sciences, Lausanne

Your responsibilities
You will be take advantage of state of the art animal experimentation, molecular biology, biochemistry, imaging and cell biological techniques, to characterize the mechanisms controlling potassium and sodium homeostasis, as well as blood pressure, using sophisticated animal and cell models.

Your qualifications
We are seeking outstanding and highly motivated candidates at the postdoctoral level, who are willing to autonomously guide and pursue a research project. Experience in animal experimentation and knowledge of renal physiology is expected. The proposed project involves novel signaling pathways that control transepithelial sodium and potassium transport, affecting NCC, ENaC and ROMK. Techniques include the in vivo biochemical and physiological analysis of new, conditional knockout mouse models, combined with in vitro experimental approaches (cell biology, molecular biology, and electrophysiology) in various cell lines and/or Xenopus laevis oocytes.

What the position offers you
Our laboratory (http://www.unil.ch/dsb) is a member of the Transatlantic Network of Research in Kidney and Hypertension (https://www.fondationleducq.org/transatlantic-networks-of-excellence/funded- networks). The Department of Biomedical Sciences is a dynamic institute with international and interactive groups and access to state-of-the-art facilities. The working environment is dynamic, stimulating, interdisciplinary, with state-of-the-art technologies, cutting-edge core facilities, and attractive employment conditions.

Contact for further information
Prof. Olivier Staub

Phone number : +41 21 692 54 07

E-mail : olivier.staub@unil.ch

Your application
Deadline : 1.11.2021

Please, send your full application in Word or PDF, including a motivation letter, CV and 3 references. Only applications through this website will be taken into account.

We thank you for your understanding.

Additional information
UNIL is committed to equal opportunities and diversity.

www.unil.ch/egalite

UNIL supports early career researchers.

www.unil.ch/graduatecampus