Positions

Overview

  • The Zhang Lab is seeking a postdoctoral scholar and a graduate student or a MSTP student. We are a very collegial and diverse group working on exciting new research integration of autophagy, metabolism and redox signaling in the nervous system in the context of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases at the Department of Pathology in University of Alabama at Birmingham.

    Attributes:
    Interested, passionate, and dedicated to design and perform interesting and important research
    Good communication skills and be willing to do collaborative as well as independent research
    Good work ethic
    Take initiatives

    Minimum qualifications:
    For the postdoc position: PhD in Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Neuroscience or related field. For the student position: admitted into UAB GBS or MSTP programs.

    Additional attributes for a postdoc:
    Experience in working with animals
    Experience in cell culture
    Experience in microscopy and immunohistochemistry
    Experience in basic molecular biology techniques
    Experience in writing and publishing research articles
    Those interested in the position should email a cover letter with a summary of research experience, interest and objectives, a current CV and contact information for 3 references to Dr. Jianhua Zhang (zhanja@uab.edu).
    Application review will begin immediately and will continue until a suitable candidate is selected.

    • Selected Publications

    Academic Article

    Year Title Altmetric
    2020 Microbial Diversity and Composition Is Associated with Patient-Reported Toxicity during Chemoradiation Therapy for Cervical Cancer 2020
    2020 Molecular Analysis of Clinically Defined Subsets of High-Grade Serous Ovarian Cancer 2020
    2020 Role and Mechanisms of Mitophagy in Liver Diseases. 2020
    2020 Genomic profiles and clinical outcomes of de novo blastoid/pleomorphic MCL are distinct from those of transformed MCL 2020
    2020 MitoQ regulates redox-related noncoding RNAs to preserve mitochondrial network integrity in pressure-overload heart failure 2020
    2020 Correction: Distinct co-acquired alterations and genomic evolution during TKI treatment in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with or without acquired T790M mutation (Oncogene, (2020), 39, 9, (1846-1859), 10.1038/s41388-019-1104-z) 2020
    2020 Distinct co-acquired alterations and genomic evolution during TKI treatment in non-small-cell lung cancer patients with or without acquired T790M mutation 2020
    2020 Autophagy-related protein PIK3C3/VPS34 controls T cell metabolism and function: PIK3C3/VPS34 in T cell metabolism and function 2020
    2020 Circadian Regulation of Cardiac Physiology: Rhythms That Keep the Heart Beating 2020
    2020 Nuclear receptor binding factor 2 (NRBF2) is required for learning and memory 2020
    2020 Pathogenic mutations and overall survival in 3,084 patients with cancer: The Hellenic Cooperative oncology group precision medicine initiative 2020
    2019 Mechanisms of nuclear content loading to exosomes 2019
    2019 USP21 deubiquitinase promotes pancreas cancer cell stemness via Wnt pathway activation 2019
    2019 Acute increases in O-glcNAc indirectly impair mitochondrial bioenergetics through dysregulation of lonp1-mediated mitochondrial protein complex turnover 2019
    2019 Bioenergetics and translational metabolism: Implications for genetics, physiology and precision medicine 2019
    2018 Exosomal transfer of mitochondria from airway myeloid-derived regulatory cells to T cells 2018
    2018 Identification of Compounds That Decrease Glioblastoma Growth and Glucose Uptake in Vitro 2018
    2018 Methods for assessing mitochondrial quality control mechanisms and cellular consequences in cell culture 2018
    2018 Temporal partitioning of adaptive responses of the murine heart to fasting 2018
    2018 Mitochondrial function and autophagy: integrating proteotoxic, redox, and metabolic stress in Parkinson's disease 2018
    2018 The lysosomal enzyme alpha-Galactosidase A is deficient in Parkinson's disease brain in association with the pathologic accumulation of alpha-synuclein 2018
    2018 Glutaminolysis is required for transforming growth factor-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and activation 2018
    2018 Glutaminolysis is required for transforming growth factor-β1-induced myofibroblast differentiation and activation. 2018
    2017 Regulation of autophagy, mitochondrial dynamics, and cellular bioenergetics by 4-hydroxynonenal in primary neurons 2017
    2017 Genetic disruption of the cardiomyocyte circadian clock differentially influences insulin-mediated processes in the heart 2017
    2017 Autophagy-related protein Vps34 controls the homeostasis and function of antigen cross-presenting CD8α+ dendritic cells 2017
    2017 O-GlcNAc regulation of autophagy and α-synuclein homeostasis; Implications for Parkinson's disease 2017
    2017 Haplodeficiency of Cathepsin D does not affect cerebral amyloidosis and autophagy in APP/PS1 transgenic mice 2017
    2017 Myocardial Upregulation of Cathepsin D by Ischemic Heart Disease Promotes Autophagic Flux and Protects Against Cardiac Remodeling and Heart Failure 2017
    2017 O-GlcNAcylation and neurodegeneration 2017
    2017 Oxidative stress and neurodegeneration 2017
    2017 Autophagy and the redox connection: Virtual collection Vol 2 2017
    2017 Inhibition of autophagy with bafilomycin and chloroquine decreases mitochondrial quality and bioenergetic function in primary neurons 2017
    2017 Trehalose does not improve neuronal survival on exposure to alpha-synuclein pre-formed fibrils 2017
    2017 NADPH Oxidase 4 (Nox4) suppresses mitochondrial biogenesis and bioenergetics in lung fibroblasts via a nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-like 2 (Nrf2)-dependent pathway 2017
    2016 Redox biology and the interface between bioenergetics, autophagy and circadian control of metabolism 2016
    2016 Differential regulation of autophagy and mitophagy in pulmonary diseases 2016
    2016 Abrogation of Nrf2 impairs antioxidant signaling and promotes atrial hypertrophy in response to high-intensity exercise stress 2016
    2016 Metabolic, autophagic, and mitophagic activities in cancer initiation and progression 2016
    2016 Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (3rd edition) 2016
    2016 Novel mechanisms for the antifibrotic action of nintedanib 2016
    2016 The role of autophagy, mitophagy and lysosomal functions in modulating bioenergetics and survival in the context of redox and proteotoxic damage: Implications for neurodegenerative diseases 2016
    2015 Erratum: KEAP1-NRF2 signalling and autophagy in protection against oxidative and reductive proteotoxicity (Biochemical Journal (2015) 469 (347-355)) 2015
    2015 KEAP1-NRF2 signalling and autophagy in protection against oxidative and reductive proteotoxicity 2015
    2015 Upregulation of autophagy decreases chlorine-induced mitochondrial injury and lung inflammation 2015
    2015 Teaching the basics of autophagy and mitophagy to redox biologists-Mechanisms and experimental approaches 2015
    2015 Regulation of autophagy by protein post-translational modification 2015
    2014 SCCA1/SERPINB3 promotes oncogenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the unfolded protein response and IL6 signaling 2014
    2014 Aging and energetics' 'Top 40' future research opportunities 2010-2013 2014
    2014 Autophagy as an essential cellular antioxidant pathway in neurodegenerative disease 2014
    2014 Bioenergetic adaptation in response to autophagy regulators during rotenone exposure 2014
    2014 Mitophagy mechanisms and role in human diseases 2014
    2014 Over-expression of an inactive mutant cathepsin D increases endogenous alpha-synuclein and cathepsin B activity in SH-SY5Y cells 2014
    2014 Redox regulation of antioxidants, autophagy, and the response to stress: Implications for electrophile therapeutics 2014
    2014 The Bioenergetic Health Index: a new concept in mitochondrial translational research. 2014
    2014 The role of GABARAPL1/GEC1 in autophagic flux and mitochondrial quality control in MDA-MB-436 breast cancer cells 2014
    2013 Inhibition of glycolysis attenuates 4-hydroxynonenal-dependent autophagy and exacerbates apoptosis in differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells 2013
    2013 Dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative stress in Akita+/Ins2-derived β-cells 2013
    2013 Bioenergetic and autophagic control by Sirt3 in response to nutrient deprivation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts 2013
    2013 Impaired autophagy, defective t cell homeostasis, and a wasting syndrome in mice with a t cell-specific deletion of Vps34 2013
    2013 Specific Distribution of the Autophagic Protein GABARAPL1/GEC1 in the Developing and Adult Mouse Brain and Identification of Neuronal Populations Expressing GABARAPL1/GEC1 2013
    2013 Dopamine and its metabolites in cathepsin D heterozygous mice before and after MPTP administration 2013
    2013 ICAD Deficiency in Human Colon Cancer and Predisposition to Colon Tumorigenesis: Linkage to Apoptosis Resistance and Genomic Instability 2013
    2013 Apoptotic DNA fragmentation may be a cooperative activity between caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease and the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-regulated DNAS1L3, an endoplasmic reticulum-localized endonucleasethat translocates to the nucleus during apoptosis 2013
    2013 Convergent mechanisms for dysregulation of mitochondrial quality control in metabolic disease: Implications for mitochondrial therapeutics 2013
    2013 Apoptotic DNA fragmentation may be a cooperative activity between caspase-activated deoxyribonuclease and the poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-regulated DNAS1... 2013
    2013 Autophagy and mitophagy in cellular damage control 2013
    2013 Autophagy and mitophagy in cellular damage control 2013
    2013 Autophagy as an essential cellular antioxidant pathway in neurodegenerative disease, Redox Biology 2 (2014) 82–90 2013
    2013 Cellular metabolic and autophagic pathways: Traffic control by redox signaling 2013
    2013 Dysfunctional mitochondrial bioenergetics and oxidative stress in Akita+/Ins2-derived β-cells 2013
    2013 Inhibition of autophagy and glycolysis by nitric oxide during hypoxia-reoxygenation impairs cellular bioenergetics and promotes cell death in primary neurons 2013
    2013 Utilization of fluorescent probes for the quantification and identification of subcellular proteomes and biological processes regulated by lipid peroxidation products 2013
    2012 Integration of cellular bioenergetics with mitochondrial quality control and autophagy 2012
    2012 Distinct Effects of Rotenone, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium and 6-hydroxydopamine on Cellular Bioenergetics and Cell Death 2012
    2012 Genetically engineered mouse models of Parkinson's disease 2012
    2012 Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy 2012
    2012 Hemin causes mitochondrial dysfunction in endothelial cells through promoting lipid peroxidation: The protective role of autophagy 2012
    2012 Class III PI3K Vps34 plays an essential role in autophagy and in heart and liver function 2012
    2012 Autophagy, mitochondria and oxidative stress: Cross-talk and redox signalling 2012
    2012 Mammalian PIK3C3/VPS34: The key to autophagic processing in liver and heart 2012
    2011 Differentiation of SH-SY5Y cells to a neuronal phenotype changes cellular bioenergetics and the response to oxidative stress 2011
    2011 Assessing bioenergetic function in response to oxidative stress by metabolic profiling 2011
    2011 Reduction of mutant huntingtin accumulation and toxicity by lysosomal cathepsins D and B in neurons 2011
    2011 Systems biology of the autophagy-lysosomal pathway 2011
    2010 Lysosomal function in macromolecular homeostasis and bioenergetics in Parkinson's disease 2010
    2010 Lysosome dysfunction triggers Atg7-dependent neural apoptosis 2010
    2009 Inhibition of lysosomal functions reduces proteasomal activity 2009
    2008 Fos regulates neuronal activity in the nucleus accumbens 2008
    2008 The autophagy-lysosomal degradation pathway: Role in neurodegenerative disease and therapy 2008
    2008 Differential activation of c-Fos and caspase-3 in hippocampal neuron subpopulations following neonatal hypoxia-ischemia 2008
    2008 A neuroprotective role of lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D against a-synuclein pathogenesis 2008
    2008 Lysosomal enzyme cathepsin D protects against alpha-synuclein aggregation and toxicity. 2008
    2007 Lack of self-administration of cocaine in dopamine D1 receptor knock-out mice 2007
    2007 Dopamine D1 and D3 receptors oppositely regulate NMDA- and cocaine-induced MAPK signaling via NMDA receptor phosphorylation 2007
    2007 Deficiency of DNA fragmentation factor 45 results in reduced oocyte apoptosis in response to doxorubicin 2007
    2007 The dopamine D3 receptor antagonist NGB 2904 increases spontaneous and amphetamine-stimulated locomotion 2007
    2007 Kainic acid induces early and transient autophagic stress in mouse hippocampus 2007
    2007 The Aedes albopictus inhibitor of apoptosis 1 gene protects vertebrate cells from bluetongue virus-induced apoptosis 2007
    2007 Effects of acute "binge" cocaine on mRNA levels of μ opioid receptor and neuropeptides in dopamine D1 or D3 receptor knockout mice 2007
    2006 c-Fos facilitates the acquisition and extinction of cocaine-induced persistent changes 2006
    2006 Dose-response analysis of locomotor activity and stereotypy in dopamine D3 receptor mutant mice following acute amphetamine 2006
    2006 Deficient hippocampal c-fos expression results in reduced anxiety and altered response to chronic stress in female mice 2006
    2006 c-fos modulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression in mouse hippocampal CA3 and dentate gyrus neurons 2006
    2006 Deficient hippocampal c-fos expression results in reduced anxiety and altered response to chronic stress in female mice 2006
    2006 Opposite regulation of cocaine-induced intracellular signaling and gene expression by dopamine D1 and D3 receptors 2006
    2006 c-fos modulates brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA expression in mouse hippocampal CA3 and dentate gyrus neurons 2006
    2005 Repeated cocaine administration induces gene expression changes through the dopamine D1 receptors 2005
    2005 Erythropoietin prevents the acute myocardial inflammatory response induced by ischemia/reperfusion via induction of AP-1 2005
    2005 Gene expression changes induced by repeated cocaine administration through the dopamine D1 receptors 2005
    2004 Neural system-enriched gene expression: Relationship to biological pathways and neurological diseases 2004
    2004 Molecular genetic probing of dopamine receptors in drug addiction 2004
    2004 Role of endonuclease G in neuronal excitotoxicity in mice 2004
    2004 c-fos regulates neuropeptide Y expression in mouse dentate gyrus 2004
    2004 Cocaine-Induced Intracellular Signaling and Gene Expression Are Oppositely Regulated by the Dopamine D1 and D3 Receptors 2004
    2004 Bioconductor: open software development for computational biology and bioinformatics. 2004
    2003 Endonuclease G is required for early embryogenesis and normal apoptosis in mice 2003
    2003 Function of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor/Channel ρ1 Subunits in Spinal Cord 2003
    2003 7-OH-DPAT and PD 128907 selectively activate the D3 dopamine receptor in a novel environment 2003
    2003 DNA Fragmentation in Mammalian Apoptosis and Tissue Homeostasis 2003
    2003 Generating gene knockout mice for studying mechanisms underlying drug addiction. 2003
    2002 Hippocampal expression of c-fos is not essential for spatial learning 2002
    2002 c-fos-deficient mouse hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons exhibit both enhanced basal and kainic acid-induced excitability 2002
    2002 Expression profiles of 109 apoptosis pathway-related genes in 82 mouse tissues and experimental conditions 2002
    2002 The dopamine D1 receptor is a critical mediator for cocaine-induced gene expression 2002
    2002 DNA fragmentation factor 45 knockout mice exhibit longer memory retention in the novel object recognition task compared to wild-type mice 2002
    2002 Apoptotic DNA fragmentation and tissue homeostasis 2002
    2002 Identification of chronic cocaine-induced gene expression through dopamine D1 receptors by using cDNA microarrays 2002
    2002 c-fos regulates neuronal excitability and survival 2002
    2001 Presence of DNA fragmentation and lack of neuroprotective effect in DFF45 knockout mice subjected to traumatic brain injury 2001
    2001 Toward a molecular understanding of psychostimulant actions using genetically engineered dopamine receptor knockout mice as model systems 2001
    2001 DNA fragmentation factor 45 mutant mice exhibit resistance to kainic acid-induced neuronal cell death 2001
    2001 Selective loss of natural killer T cells by apoptosis following infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus 2001
    2000 Lack of obvious 50 kilobase pair DNA fragments in DNA fragmentation factor 45-deficient thymocytes upon activation of apoptosis 2000
    2000 DNA fragmentation factor 45 deficient mice exhibit enhanced spatial learning and memory compared to wild-type control mice 2000
    2000 Behavioral responses to cocaine and amphetamine administration in mice lacking the dopamine D1 receptor 2000
    2000 DNA fragmentation in apoptosis 2000
    2000 Probing the role of the dopamine D1 receptor in psychostimulant addiction 2000
    1999 DNA fragmentation factor 45-deficient cells are more resistant to apoptosis and exhibit different dying morphology than wild-type control cells 1999
    1998 Resistance to DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation in mice lacking the DNA fragmentation factor 45 1998
    1996 Intrinsic tryptophans of CRABPI as probes of structure and folding 1996
    1995 Association of an activator with an RNA polymerase II holoenzyme 1995
    1995 A kinase–cyclin pair in the RNA polymerase II holoenzyme 1995
    1995 Association of an activator with an RNA polymerase II holoenzyme 1995
    1992 Mutating the charged residues in the binding pocket of cellular retinoic acid‐binding protein simultaneously reduces its binding affinity to retinoic acid and increases its thermostability 1992

    Chapter

    Year Title Altmetric
    2017 ROS and epigenetics.  519-533. 2017
    2013 Reactive Oxygen and Nitrogen Species: Interactions with Mitochondria and Pathophysiology.  17-22. 2013
    2012 Mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease: Protein aggregation, autophagy, and oxidative stress.  95-111. 2012
    2009 Apoptosis in neurodegenerative diseases.  479-504. 2009
    2006 Cell Death and Transcription.  431-444. 2006
    2006 Comparative Genomics of Tissue Specific Gene Expression.  393-408. 2006
    2006 MODERATION, MODESTY, CREATIVITY, AND CRITICALNESS 2006

    Research Overview

  • We focus on the redox, metabolic and interactome regulatory mechanisms on autophagy, mitophagy and endolysosomal functions, as novel insights are laying the foundation for treatment of Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, cardiovascular, and inflammatory diseases.

    • Principal Investigator On

    Investigator On

    Teaching Overview

  • Dr. Zhang has been an active teacher and mentor for Post-Doctoral Scholars, Graduate, Undergraduate, and Medical students. She is committed to creating a supportive and inspiring environment for the development of the individual trainees. She works closely with trainees, with regular in-depth discussions of concepts, approaches, experimental details, problem-solving and data interpretations. She will help the student learn both from success and from the inevitable setbacks that occur in research, provide opportunities and guidance for them not only to develop experimental skills, but also to learn how to review and write manuscripts, how to critique and write grant applications, how to interact with collaborators and support each other as a team. All her students have been given opportunities to give oral presentations, several received young investigator awards for their presentations at national or local meetings. She aims to inspire passion for research while emphasizing rigor, reproducibility, transparency, and responsible conduct in research. Many prior trainees are still in close contact, and receive support and consultation during the development of their long-term career goals. She is currently course directors for:
    GBS701 - Core Concepts in Research (Fall Term 2019) (UAB Course Taught)
    GBS754 - Autophagy in Disease & Med (Fall Term 2019) (UAB Course Taught)

    • Teaching Activities

    Education And Training

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Cell / Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas System : Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas 1991

    • Full Name

  • Jianhua Zhang