Multiple PhD student and Postdoctoral Fellow positions are available in Dr. Liang Han's laboratory at Georgia Institute of Technology School of Biology (biosci.gatech.edu/people/liang-han). We use a combination of molecular genetic, immunohistochemical, fluorescence imaging and behavioral approaches to understand how the nervous system receives, transmits and interprets various stimuli to induce physiological and behavioral responses.
We are particularly interested in the basic mechanisms underlying somatosensation, including pain, itch and mechanical sensation. Our previous studies have identified the molecular identity of itch-sensing neurons in the peripheral (Han et. al. 2013 Nature Neuroscience). We are currently investigating how chronic itch associated with cutaneous or systemic disorders is initiated and transmitted and to search for new therapeutic targets for treating chronic itch conditions.
We are also interested in the physiological functions of the sensory innervations in the respiratory system. We recently identified a subset of vagal sensory neurons mediating bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness (Han et. al. 2017 Nature Neuroscience). We are investigating how the sensory innervation in the airway contributes to the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases.
We are seeking motivated and enthusiastic individuals to join our group. The lab is NIH-funded and is committed to foster a collaborative environment and to promote creative scientific research and career development of every lab member.
Applicants for both student and Postdoctoral Fellow positions should directly e-mail Dr. Liang Han at l[email protected] a single file that includes CV and names/contact information of three references. The candidates for the Postdoctoral Fellow position should have a PhD degree in biomedical science related fields. Previous experience in neuroscience and respiratory diseases is preferred. Prospective PhD students should also apply to the Georgia Tech School of Biological Sciences PhD program in Biology (http://biosci.gatech.edu/graduate/prospective-students).
Related publications:
• Han L*, Limjunyawong N, Ru F, Li Z, Hall OJ, Steele H, Zhu Y, Wilson J, Mitzner W, Kollarik M, Undem BJ, Canning BJ, Dong X* (2017). Mrgprs on vagal sensory neurons contribute to bronchoconstriction and airway hyperresponsiveness. Nature Neuroscience (In Press). *corresponding authors.
• McNeil B, Pundir P, Meeker S, Han L, Undem BJ, Kulka M, Dong X (2015). Identification of a mast cell specific receptor crucial for pseudo-allergic drug reactions. Nature. Mar 12;519(7542):237-41.
• Han L*, Dong X* (2014). Itch mechanisms and circuits. Annual Review Biophysics. 43:331-55., *corresponding authors.
• Han L, Ma C, Liu Q, Weng HJ, Cui Y, Tang Z, Kim Y, Nie H, Qu L, Patel KN, Li Z, McNeil B, He S, Guan Y, Xiao B, Lamotte RH, Dong X (2013). A subpopulation of nociceptors specifically linked to itch. Nature Neuroscience 16, 174-182.
• Kim Y, Chu Y, Han L, Li M, Li Z, LaVinka PC, Caterina MJ, Ren K, Dubner R, Wei F, Dong X (2014). Central terminal sensitization of TRPV1 by descending 5-HT facilitation is a key determinant of chronic pain, Neuron 81(4):873-87.
About the PI-Liang Han
Dr. Liang Han received a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences in 2001 and a M.S. degree in Developmental Biology in 2004 from Tsinghua University in China. She obtained her Ph.D. degree in Neuroscience in 2009 from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Following graduate school, she joined Dr. Xinzhong Dong's Laboratory (HHMI) at the Johns Hopkins University Department of Neuroscience as a postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Han joined the faculty at the Georgia Institute of Technology School of Biological Sciences as an assistant professor in January 2016. Her research interests focus on the mechanisms of somatosensation and the role of sensory neurons in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases. She is the recipient of Albert Lehninger Young Investigator Award from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from NINDS in 2014.
About Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology is ranked 7th among all public national universities in the United States and 34th among all colleges and universities in U.S. News & World Report rankings. It is located in Atlanta, the capital of city in the U.S. state of Georgia. Atlanta hosted the 1996 Summer Olympics and has always been a major Southern financial and cultural force in US. The Metro Atlanta economy is the eighth-largest in the country, hosting he global headquarters of corporations such as The Coca-Cola Company, The Home Depot, Delta Air Lines, AT&T Mobility, Chick-fil-A, and UPS. Atlanta is also well known for its dynamic culture with a large population of migrants from all over the world. (cited from wiki).
