POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLAR | University of Iowa - Military Veterans

To perform foundational and translational research on mechanisms of neurodevelopmental and -degenerative disorders caused by mutation is signaling molecules, in particular protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and protein kinase A (PKA). The Strack lab has postdoctoral projects in the following areas: (1) understanding disease mechanisms in Houge-Janssens Syndrome 1 (caused by de novo mutations in the protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) regulatory subunit PPP2R5D) and Marbach-Schaaf Neurodevelopmental Syndrome (caused by de novo mutations in the protein kinase A (PKA) regulatory subunit PRKAR1B); (2) understanding cognitive impairment is cerebellar disorders (Ataxia of Charlevoix Saguenay); (3) development of phosphodiesterase inhibitors for the treatment of neurodevelopmental and -degenerative disorders; (4) regulation of PP2A by proteasomal degradation. The laboratory uses both germline and conditional (floxed) mouse models of neurological disorders for behavioral, imaging, biochemical, and histopathological experiments. We also use primary neuronal and immortalized cell culture systems to study disease-mutant proteins in vitro. Postdoctoral candidates are expected to have a background in Neuroscience, strong analytical skills, and an intense curiosity to answer significant and complex questions.