Postdoctoral Researcher for Molecular Mechanisms of Motor Neurodegeneration

The Storkebaum lab  combines Drosophila and mouse genetics to unravel molecular mechanisms underlying motor neurodegenerative and neuromuscular disorders. Our current focus is on Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) peripheral neuropathy associated with mutations in tRNA synthetases and on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) associated with mutations in FUS. More broadly, we are interested in the molecular mechanisms underlying axonal degeneration, with a focus on the role of mRNA translation defects. We use a broad spectrum of methods and techniques including a recently developed method for cell-type-specific in vivo labelling of newly synthesised proteins (NCAT), several high-end imaging techniques (confocal and super-resolution microscopy), single-molecule FISH, (single-cell/single-nucleus) transcriptomics, whole genome sequencing, mouse and Drosophila behavioural analysis, electromyography, histology, immunohistochemistry, molecular biology and biochemistry.

Our dynamic and international team currently consists of three postdoctoral researchers, four PhD candidates and a technical assistant. Furthermore we have strong international collaborations with scientists working on RNA biology and genetics. We attracted substantial external funding, including an ERC consolidator grant, two JPND grants, and grants from the Radala Foundation for ALS Research, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), AFM, ARSLA, the Dutch ALS Association, Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds and the Dutch Research Council NWO. We have several recent papers published in high-impact journals, including Science, Nature, Neuroscience, Journal of Cell Biology, Nature Communications, Acta Neuropathologica, EMBO Journal and PLoS Genetics.

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