Postdoctoral Associate- Molecular and Circuit Basis of Sleep

A postdoctoral associate position is available to study the molecular and circuit basis of sleep.  We use sophisticated genetic approaches in Drosophila and mice to study the genes and circuitry underlying sleep, a fundamental and evolutionary conserved behavior.  We are studying the homeostatic and circadian mechanisms regulating sleep, and also have deep interest in understanding the functions of sleep and how sleep interacts with neurological disease.  To carry out these studies, we combine molecular and genetic approaches with high throughput behavioral assays, immunohistochemical techniques, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and in vivo functional imaging.  Applicants should have a Ph.D. and/or M.D. and be creative and highly motivated.  A strong background in mouse neural circuit manipulations and electrophysiology is desirable.  For more information, please visit our website:  www.markwulab.net.

Representative publications:

1. Lee, S.-S., Liu, Q., Cheng, A.H.R., Kim, D.W., Boudreau, D.M., Mehta, A., Keleş, M.F., Fejfer, R., Palmer, I., Park, K.H., Münzberg, H., Harris, T.D., Graves, A.R., Blackshaw, S., and Wu, M.N.(2025).  Sleep Need-Dependent Plasticity of a Thalamic Circuit Promotes Homeostatic Recovery Sleep.  Science 388, doi.org/10.1126/science.adm8203.
2. Keleş, M.F., Sapci, A.O.B., Brody, C., Palmer, I., Mehta, A., Ahmadi, S., Le, C., Tastan, Ö., Keleş, S., and Wu, M.N. (2025).  FlyVISTA, an Integrated Machine Learning Platform for Deep Phenotyping of Sleep in Drosophila.  Science Adv 11, doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adq8131.
3. Liu, Q., Xiong, J., Kim, D.W., Lee, S.-S., Bell, B.J., Alexandre, C., Blackshaw, S., Latremoliere, A., and Wu, M.N.(2024).  An amygdalar oscillator coordinates cellular and behavioral rhythms.  Neuron 112, 3750-3767.
4. Liu, Q.*, Bell, B.J.*, Kim, D.-W., Lee, S.-S., Keles, M.F., Liu, Q., Blum, I.D., Wang, A.A., Blank, E.J., Xiong, J., Bedont, J.L., Chang, A.J., Issa, H., Cohen, J.Y., Blackshaw, S., and Wu, M.N. (2023).  A Clock-Dependent Brake for Rhythmic Arousal in the Dorsomedial Hypothalamus.  Nat Commun 14, 6381, doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41877-4.

Please send cover letter, CV, and the names of three references to marknwu@jhmi.edu.