Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Postdoctoral positions for highly motivated research fellows are available in the laboratory of Dr. Suraj Patel to study molecular links between immune signaling and hepatic metabolism. Research in the Patel lab focuses on understanding the metabolic causes and consequences of liver disease. We have a particular interest in hepatic metabolism and its regulation by the immune system. We utilize genetic, epigenetic and proteomic approaches, combined with detailed physiological studies. We are seeking bright and enthusiastic scientists that are interested in understanding the complex mechanisms that causally link inflammation to metabolic dysfunction in obesity and fatty liver disease.

Dr. Patel is a physician-scientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and Center for Human Nutrition at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Patel’s investigations have uncovered numerous points of crosstalk between inflammatory and metabolic pathways including:

• Discovery of a novel gap junction communication pathway critical for amplifying innate immune responses and establishing antiviral immunity (Patel SJ, et al., 2009, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA).

• Hepatic gap junction protein connexin 32 (Cx32) plays a vital role in propagating liver injury (Patel SJ, et al., 2012, Nature Biotechnology; Patel SJ, et al., 2018, Hepatology Communications; Patel SJ, et al., 2020, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA).

• Identification of a novel hepatic IRF3-PPP2R1B axis as a causal link between obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance (Patel SJ, et al., 2022, Sci Transl Medicine).

Further information about the research in the Patel Lab can be found at: www.surajpatellab.com.