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Liao Laboratory Team
The Liao Lab is driven to investigate fundamental questions in craniofacial biology, leveraging advances in genomics and gene therapy to improve diagnosis and treatment of children and families. Working in a collaborative, supportive, and collegial environment, they believe progress is made at the interface of disciplines and is enriched by a diversity of perspectives.
Leader
Eric Chien-Wei Liao, MD, PhD
Director, Center for Craniofacial Innovation
Dr. Liao is a pediatric plastic surgeon-scientist and the founding director of the Center for Craniofacial Innovation at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. His research leverages convergent advances in fetal care, human genetics, and developmental biology to initiate first-in-child trials and treatments.
We're hiring!
We are seeking motivated individuals with a strong interest in research, an open mindset to learn and collaborate, and a career goal to make a difference.
Current Openings
The Liao Laboratory is seeking a highly motivated research fellow interested in craniofacial developmental biology and genetics. It is a particularly exciting time to carry out these studies at CHOP as we are integrating data institution-wide across research centers, clinical informatics, deep phenotyping, genomic and multi-omic analysis of massive biorepositories of congenital conditions, cancers, and pediatric diseases. We are eager to make translational advances to realize the goal of precision medicine to improve diagnosis and treatment of congenital and pediatric conditions.
We are currently interested in recruiting a candidate with experience in zebrafish genetics and disease models. We have a robust pipeline of identifying human genes that are associated rare craniofacial conditions, where we apply zebrafish, human iPSC or mouse models to dissect the developmental genetic basis of craniofacial malformations.
The fellow will join a collaborative group of scientists who study the basic and translational biology of facial morphogenesis, cranial neural crest specification and development. In this instance, the fellow's work will focus on functional genomics of human candidate genes implicated in orofacial clefts. We are interested in the basic biology of epithelial development, RNA splicing, epithelial mesenchymal transition, neural crest cell specification, migration, differentiation and potential for regeneration. We integrate the approaches of developmental and stem cell biology, and use multi-disciplinary tools to explore human tissue regeneration and disease.
We apply the latest technology in zebrafish developmental genetics with routine use of light sheet microscopy, CRISPR/Cas gene targeting, single cell RNAseq (long read), Cut&Run transcriptional analysis, cell transplants, FACS, live confocal labeling and imaging, transgenics, chemical screening, and many other experimental approaches. Our laboratory has a dedicated zebrafish facility outfitted with the latest imaging, injection and cell manipulation instruments. Researchers work in modern state-of-art 6,000 square feet of open format laboratory space consisting of 24 lab benches and desks, two microscope rooms, two procedure rooms, two cold storage and 4-degree procedure room. The laboratory space fosters interactions with other researchers working in the Center for Craniofacial Innovation, with ample opportunities to participate in scientific seminars and professional development.
The laboratory has stable funding with extramural grants and internal support. There will be opportunities for eligible candidate to compete for independent funding.
Job Requirements
The candidate should have PhD or an MD/PhD and research experience in zebrafish genetics. Additional experience with cell culturing, microscopy, computation biology, mouse genetics, development, cell, developmental, are desirable. Outstanding oral and written communication skills are necessary.
To Apply
Please email your inquiry, current CV, statement of interest and career goals, to Dr. Eric Liao at liaoce@chop.edu
Employing Department and Institution: Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, CHOP Research Institute.