Announcement
Details
Open Date
03/27/2026
Requisition Number
PRN44612B
Job Title
Post Doc Res Assoc
Working Title
Post Doc Res Assoc
Career Progression Track
A00
Track Level
P4 - Advanced, P3 - Career, P2 - Developing, P1 - Entry Level Pro
FLSA Code
Administrative
Patient Sensitive Job Code?
No
Standard Hours per Week
40
Full Time or Part Time?
Full Time
Shift
Day
Work Schedule Summary
VP Area
U of U Health - Academics
Department
01502 - Department of Biochemistry
Location
Campus
City
Salt Lake City, UT
Type of Recruitment
External Posting
Pay Rate Range
$65,600 to $73,136
Close Date
08/26/2026
Priority Review Date (Note - Posting may close at any time)
Job Summary
The Ho lab at the University of Utah is launching an ambitious program to systematically discover, map, and therapeutically harness mitochondrial microproteins to reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in rare and common disease. Microproteins encoded by small open reading frames (smORFs) are an enormous, largely uncharted space of short proteins that regulate core aspects of mitochondrial metabolism, import, and stress responses, and represent a new class of therapeutic targets. Building on our leadership in microprotein discovery and function, we are now expanding in Utah to recruit multiple postdoctoral fellows to apply high throughput methods and machine/deep learning to unlock the full potential of the dark proteome.
Responsibilities
Scientific vision
Ribosome profiling has uncovered nearly 10,000 human microproteins, yet fewer than 1% are functionally characterized, and a substantial fraction appear to localize to mitochondria ("mito-MPs"). Our long-term goal is to:
- Create a comprehensive, experimentally validated functional atlas of mitochondrial microproteins
- Reverse mitochondrial dysfunction in rare mitochondrial diseases as well as common metabolic disorders
Postdocs in the lab will drive one or more of the following thrusts (projects can be tailored to your background):
- Mapping the mitochondrial microproteome
- Systems-level functional mapping of mito-MPs
- Hypotheses-driven interrogation of mito-MP biology
- AI-guided design of therapeutic microproteins
If you are excited by the idea of treating microproteins as programmable therapeutic modules and want to work at the intersection of mitochondrial biology, functional genomics, and machine learning, we would love to hear from you.
Methods and platforms in the lab
Depending on your project and interests, you will have the opportunity to work with:
- High-throughput functional genomics: pooled CRISPR and base-editing screens, barcoded overexpression libraries, massively parallel reporter assays.
- Advanced cell and mitochondrial biology: primary human fibroblasts, mitochondrial bioenergetics, import assays, respiratory chain phenotyping, in vivo disease models.
- Multi-omics: single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, untargeted metabolomics, quantitative proteomics.
- Computational and AI approaches: microprotein bioinformatics, multi-omic integration, protein language models, generative sequence design, and model interpretability (e.g., SHAP, attention mapping).
The Ho lab culture emphasizes team science, rigorous mechanistic work, and translation; you will join a collaborative network of basic and clinical partners aimed at moving microprotein discoveries toward therapeutic applications.
Ideal candidate profile
We are recruiting multiple postdocs, and strongly encourage applicants from all scientific and personal backgrounds. Ideal candidates will bring expertise in at least one of the following areas, and enthusiasm to learn across disciplines:
- Mitochondrial biochemistry, bioenergetics, or oxidative phosphorylation.
- Rare mitochondrial diseases or mitochondrial dysfunction in metabolic disease.
- Mitochondrial protein import, organelle proteostasis, or quality control.
- Functional genomics: CRISPR/Cas9 or base-editing screens, high-throughput reporter assays.
- Single-cell or spatial transcriptomics / proteomics / metabolomics in metabolic or mitochondrial contexts.
- Microprotein or peptide biology; therapeutic peptide, mRNA, or gene therapy development related to mitochondrial disease.
- Computational biology / bioinformatics, especially ribosome profiling, disease gene discovery, or integrative multi-omic analyses.
- Machine learning for biological data (e.g., protein language models, transformers, generative models) and interest in building interpretable tools for experimental colleagues.
Qualifications
- PhD or MD-PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Genetics, Systems Biology, Bioengineering, Computational Biology, Biomedical Data Science).
- Strong publication record for your career stage and evidence of driving projects to completion.
- Demonstrated critical and creative thinking, with the ability to formulate and test mechanistic hypotheses.
- Independence and strong organizational skills, coupled with enjoyment of close collaboration and mentoring in a team setting.
Prior experience in every technique listed is not required; we expect you to have depth in one area and motivation to expand your toolkit in others.
What we offer
- A highly collaborative, supportive environment spanning wet-lab, computational, and translational efforts, embedded in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Utah.
- Clear lines of sight to high-impact publications and therapeutic development.
- Structured mentoring to help you define your scientific niche, build an independent research vision, and prepare competitive grant and faculty applications.
- Access to state-of-the-art core facilities and an extensive network of international collaborators in mitochondrial biology, microproteins, and therapeutic development.
How to apply
Please email the following materials to lena@ho-lab.org with the subject line "Postdoctoral application - Microproteins & Mitochondria":
- CV including publication list.
- A 1-2 page statement of purpose describing:
- Your past research experience.
- How your skills intersect with our program's goals.
- One or two scientific questions you would be excited to pursue within the themes above.
- Contact information for 2-3 referees.
Informal inquiries are welcome if you would like to discuss fit or project directions before applying. For more information on our work, please visit www.ho-lab.org.
Minimum Qualifications
Preferences
Type
Benefited Staff
Special Instructions Summary
Additional Information
The University is a participating employer with Utah Retirement Systems ("URS"). Eligible new hires with prior URS service, may elect to enroll in URS if they make the election before they become eligible for retirement (usually the first day of work). Contact Human Resources at (801) 581-7447 for information. Individuals who previously retired and are receiving monthly retirement benefits from URS are subject to URS' post-retirement rules and restrictions. Please contact Utah Retirement Systems at (801) 366-7770 or (800) 695-4877 or University Human Resource Management at (801) 581-7447 if you have questions regarding the post-retirement rules.
This position may require the successful completion of a criminal background check and/or drug screen.
The University of Utah values candidates who have experience working in settings with students and possess a strong commitment to improving access to higher education.
Veterans' preference is extended to qualified applicants, upon request and consistent with University policy and Utah state law. Upon request, reasonable accommodations in the application process will be provided to individuals with disabilities.
Consistent with state and federal law, the University of Utah does not discriminate based upon race, ethnicity, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, or protected veteran's status. The University does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and 34 CFR part 106. The requirement not to discriminate in education programs or activities extends to admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, or both.
To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability or if you or someone you know has experienced discrimination or sexual misconduct including sexual harassment, you may contact the Director/Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Equal Opportunity and Title IX (OEO). More information, including the Director/Title IX Coordinator's office address, electronic mail address, and telephone number can be located at the: University of Utah Non-Discrimination page.
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