研究助理

The Tsai Lab at the University of Virginia School of Medicine is seeking 1–2 Research Assistants (RAs) to support ongoing investigations into the molecular mechanisms and physiological roles of membrane transport proteins, with a focus on mitochondrial calcium transport. Mitochondrial calcium transport is a vital process whose dysfunction has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, ischemia-reperfusion injury, cancer metastasis, and type II diabetes. Our lab takes an interdisciplinary approach, combining electrophysiology, membrane biochemistry, cell biology, advanced imaging, animal models, and structural biology (including cryo-EM) to address foundational questions in this emerging field. To learn more, please visit: www.tsaislab.org. We are seeking highly motivated master's-level researchers with aspirations to become independent scientists. RAs will work closely with the PI and be assigned an independent project with a level of complexity comparable to a PhD dissertation. Past RAs in the lab have built a strong publication record in high-impact journals. Outstanding candidates may be invited to transition into the PhD program, with research conducted during the RA period counting toward their doctoral degree. The lab is well funded by the National Institutes of Health, with an annual research budget exceeding $1 million USD. Over the past five years, our senior-author publications have appeared in Nature (2 articles), Nature Cell Biology, Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Molecular Cell, Cell Reports, JBC, and PNAS (2 articles). We maintain active collaborations with leading scientists at Cornell, Harvard, Washington University in St. Louis, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Mount Sinai, University of Michigan–Ann Arbor, and Stanford. The University of Virginia ranks #4 among U.S. public universities—behind only UC Berkeley, UCLA, and the University of Michigan—in the 2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. Our lab is located in Charlottesville, a vibrant and growing city just two hours from Washington, D.C., with rich cultural offerings, outdoor recreation, and access to the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. Application Instructions: Please submit a cover letter, CV, and the names and contact information of three references directly to Dr. Ming-Feng Tsai at [email protected]. The cover letter should clearly outline your qualifications, research interests, and motivation for joining the lab.