Join us
We study the transcription of ribosomal RNA from rDNA repeats by RNA Pol I, and how it shapes blood cell identity, immune response, and leukemic transformation. This is a young field with big open questions and a suite of new tools to answer them, from custom genomics to novel degron mouse models to single-molecule imaging. If you want to work at the intersection of fundamental biology, cellular identity, and cancer, and build a synergistic combination of wet and dry lab skills, we would like to hear from you.
What you will study
Depending on your interests, you could:
- use degron systems to dissect the foundations of ribosomal RNA transcription in cells and in live mice
- build and analyze genomic maps of repetitive ribosomal DNA
- define the dynamic behavior of rDNA chromatin across differentiation trajectories
- image RNA Polymerase I and its partners in living cells
- understand how rRNA transcription and ribosome numbers instruct hematopoietic cell identity and fate
- work out the critical nodes in rRNA transcription and ribosome biogenesis that are hijacked in leukemia
You are also encouraged to develop new research directions based on your unique interests and expertise. The lab spans wet-lab and computational science, and we help people grow in both.
Who we are
Who we're looking for
Graduate and rotation students.
We welcome rotation students from across Penn's Biomedical Graduate Studies programs, including the Cell and Molecular Biology graduate group (CAMB), across its Cancer Biology (CB), Genetics and Epigenetics (G&E), Developmental, Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology (DSRB), Cell Biology, Physiology, and Metabolism (CPM), and Gene Therapy and Vaccines (GTV) programs, as well as the Pharmacology Graduate Group (PGG). If our questions interest you, email Vikram to discuss a rotation.
Postdoctoral researchers.
We have postdoctoral positions for scientists excited by fundamental aspects of transcription, chromatin, nucleolar, or ribosome biology in the context of hematopoiesis, leukemia, and immunity. We are interested in scientists with backgrounds in wet-lab science, computational biology, or both. In addition to our lab's NIH funding, there are multiple T32 programs at Penn that can help fund your postdoctoral position, including the Hematology Research Training Program T32 grant. If you are interested in joining our lab as a fully funded postdoctoral fellow, email Vikram your CV and a brief description of your research interests.
MD/PhD or MD fellows.
We are part of the Division of Hematology-Oncology, and we enjoy working with MD and MD/PhD fellows who want to build a basic or translational research program in transcription or chromatin biology, nucleolar biology, hematopoiesis, or leukemia. The Hematology Research Training Program T32 grant provides funding for fellows in basic and translational hematology research. To explore joining, email Vikram your CV and a brief description of your research interests.
Undergraduate students.
We host Penn undergraduates who are genuinely interested in a scientific career and have completed coursework in cell biology or molecular biology, which we consider a prerequisite. Look out for Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program (PURM) listings to work in our lab.
Where we are
We are located in the Kelley Research Building (KRB, formerly named BRB) in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania research campus. We work closely with collaborators around campus, and KRB is conveniently located close to HUP, the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and the Penn Vet School.
Our lab mailing address is:
Room 549, Kelley Research Building,
421 Curie Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19104
