Genetics of Epigenetics

Fully funded postdoctoral positions are available to study the “Genetics of Epigenetics” in the zebrafish and in complementary cavefish, mouse, and cell culture models in the laboratory of Dr. Brant Weinstein in the NICHD Division of Developmental Biology (DDB) in Bethesda, Maryland. The Weinstein laboratory uses a variety of molecular, cellular, genetic, transgenic, microscopic imaging, and next-gen sequencing approaches to study the role of epigenetics during development and regeneration. For examples of some of our recent work in this area please see:

Epigenetic regulation of hematopoiesis by DNA methylation: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26814702

An epigenetic mechanism for cavefish eye degeneration: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29807993

A Novel Transgenic Reporter to Study Vertebrate Epigenetics: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.21.649821v1

Early epigenetic priming of regeneration studied with a novel transgenic epigenetic reporter:  https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.21.649771v1

Current projects use our new “EpiTag” transgenic epigenetic reporter line and other transgenic epigenetic reporters to study the epigenetics of development and regeneration, including epigenetic regulators of vascularization.

The scientific environment, resources, and stipend support for this position are superb. Learn more about research in the Weinstein lab.

Interested applicants should have a Ph.D. or M.D. and less than 3 years' postdoctoral experience. Applicants possessing both a strong biological research background and some experience with NGS data analysis (e.g., RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, Bisulfite-seq, etc.) are encouraged to apply. To apply, send a curriculum vitae, bibliography, cover letter with a brief description of research experience and interests, and the names of 3 references (with phone numbers) via e-mail to weinsteb@mail.nih.gov.

The NIH is dedicated to building a diverse community in its training and employment programs.

IMAGE: The image above shows lateral views of the head and anterior trunk of wild type (top) and epigenetic silencing mutant (bottom) zebrafish. The mutant causes loss of epigenetic silencing in the liver (red arrows), as visualized with a novel transgenic reporter line developed in the Weinstein Lab that permits dynamic, tissue-specific visualization of epigenetic silencing in living animals.