Training in the Apodaca laboratory:
The Apodaca laboratory provides a dynamic and exciting environment for predoctoral (Ph.D.) and postdoctoral training. In addition to obtaining instruction at the benchtop, trainees participate in weekly research seminars, lab meetings, a cell biology journal club, the annual Local Traffic symposium on intracellular membrane traffic, and national meetings. Furthermore, trainees interface with a large group of investigators interested in membrane traffic, epithelial biology, and bladder physiology here at the University of Pittsburgh.
Ph.D. training:
Prospective students interested in Ph.D. training are encouraged to apply to one of the following Ph.D. training programs:
- Program in Integrative Molecular Biology (www.pimb.pitt.edu)
- The Interdisciplinary Biomedical Graduate Program, emphasis in Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology (www.gradbiomed.pitt.edu)
- The Department of Bioengineering (www.engr.pitt.edu/bioengineering/main)
Students interested in laboratory rotations can learn the following techniques:
Cell culture, confocal and electron microscopy, biochemical assays of endocytosis, postendocytic fate and biosynthetic delivery, biochemistry of protein-protein interactions, protein purification, mutagenesis of DNA and transfection of polarized cells, assays of membrane traffic in streptolysin-O permeabilized and mechanically perforated cells, and electrophysiological methods to analyze membrane traffic.
Post-Doctoral Fellowships:
The training of post-doctoral fellows for independent research careers is a major goal of the laboratory. Applicants with prior training in cell, molecular, or developmental biology or biochemistry are particularly encouraged to apply. To apply for a post-doctoral fellowship in the laboratory, please provide: A detailed curriculum vitae that includes training and degrees (include pending degrees); a list of papers published, in press, and in preparation; a statement of citizenship, permanent residency, or Visa status; and the names and addresses of at least 3 referees. Please also include a statement of your reason for interest in the lab and your goals for a post-doctoral fellowship.
Send inquiries to: Gerard Apodaca, Ph.D. – gla6@pitt.edu
Laboratory environment:
The laboratory is equipped with multiple G4/G5 Macintosh workstations with color and b&w printers, an Apple Bioinformatics Cluster running Bioteam software, and several word processing, graphics, and image analysis software packages including Improvision's Volocity. The laboratory has fume hoods and all of the equipment necessary to perform protein and DNA biochemistry including electrophoresis equipment and PCR machines. Moreover, we have several dedicated pressure chamber/capacitance systems to perform the research on the bladder epithelium. The lab tissue culture facility includes two hoods, four incubators, and a light microscope. In addition we have a separate microscopy suite that houses our JEOL TS100 scanning electron microscope, our JEOL 100CX transmission electron microscope, two Leica ultramicrotomes/cryoultramicrotomes, a Leica cryotome, and a Nikon Optiphot microscope equipped for phase/contrast and fluorescence microscopy. Other divisional facilities include an HPLC/FPLC set-up for protein purification, high speed and ultra centrifuges, gamma and scintillation counters, a BioRad phosphorimager and Versadoc, a Leica TCS-SL confocal system and a Nikon T300 inverted microscope fitted with a Hamamatsu Orca 12-bit CCD camera, a Z-focus controller, and Improvision Openlab deconvolution software.
Click here to see images of our laboratory and associated research facilities.
