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Williams Lab

We are interested in understanding at a cellular level the neural control of energy balance and glucose metabolism, and elucidating how these events may participate in human disease.

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Some of our major ongoing thematic projects are listed here:

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and the Unfolded Protein Response

Linking neuronal activity with energy and glucose balance

Neuronal plasticity and synaptic reorganization in response to exercise

Williams Lab

Details about Our Research

The goal of our research is to identify novel neural circuits, neurotransmitters, and intracellular molecules in the brain that are critical for the proper control of feeding behavior, body weight, glucose balance, and cardiovascular health. We utilize mouse genetics, electrophysiology, and systems neuroscience approaches to accomplish these studies. We hope that results from my research will identify rational targets for developing potential therapeutic strategies for obesity, eating disorders, diabetes, and hypertension.

Current Lab Members

Linh Lieu

Research Assistant I & Lab manager

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Briana Wallace

Research Technician II

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Anita Kabahizi

Research Technician II

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Bryan portillo

Research Technician II

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kyle Gross

Research Technician II

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Jason ajwani

Research Technician II

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Eun-sang hwang, ph.d.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

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Former Lab Members

Tianya Liu, Visiting Graduate student, Suzhou University

Zhuo Deng, Visitng Graduate student in Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine in Xi’an, China

Yong Gao,M.S., Ph.D. Candidate, CAMS & PUMC in Beijing, China

Ting Yao, M.S., Ph.D. Candidate, Xi’an Jiaotong University School of Medicine in Xi’an, China

Jia Sun, M.D., Ph.D., Visiting Associate Professor, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Yiru Huang M.D., Ph.D. Candidate, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Min Yi M.D., Visiting Senior Researcher, Department of Endocrinology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Jianhong Cao, Visiting Graduate Student, PI-WEI Institute, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China

Zhenyan He, M.D. Visiting Senior Researcher, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China

Sadia Afrin M.S., Research Assistant I 

Available Positions

Available Student, Postdoctoral fellow, and Research Technician Positions

The Williams lab is seeking motivated, hard-working, and imaginative student, postdoc, and technician researchers to join our team.

The Williams lab is interested in understanding at a cellular level the neural control of energy balance and glucose metabolism, and elucidating how these events may participate in human disease. The goal of our research is to identify novel neural circuits, neurotransmitters, and intracellular molecules in the brain that are critical for the proper control of feeding behavior, body weight, glucose balance, and cardiovascular health. We hope that results from my research will identify rational targets for developing potential therapeutic strategies for obesity, eating disorders, diabetes, and hypertension.

Several graduate student and postdoctoral positions are available in the Williams lab. There are also Research Technician/Research Assistant/Research Associate positions available. Projects will take advantage of our one-of-a-kind collection of transgenic mouse models. These models allow us to characterize and manipulate gene expression and modulate cellular activity in specific cells and neurons of interest. Methods include mouse behavioral protocols, CRISPR-Cas9, transcriptomics, histology, stereotaxic brain surgery, chemogenetics, optogenetics, and in vivo fiber photometry, to name a few.

Candidates for the graduate student positions can come from any UT Southwestern Ph.D. Program, and most usually are from the Neuroscience Graduate Program or the Genetics Development and Disease Graduate Program. Students most often are also affiliated with the Molecular Metabolism and Metabolic Diseases (3MD) Track (chaired by Dr. Zigman). We would love to have you and your friends rotate through the lab!

Candidates for the postdoctoral positions must hold a Ph.D. and/or M.D. degree.

All candidates should be self-motivated and are expected to contribute substantively to the design, implementation, interpretation and reporting of their investigational studies. Prior experience with genetically-engineered mouse models and related breeding strategies, mouse behavioral studies, stereotaxic brain surgery and other neuroanatomical techniques such as chemogenetics and optogenetics, histology, cell culture, and/or bioinformatics leading to publication in peer-reviewed journals is recommended but not required.

Interested individuals should send a CV, statement of interests, and a list of three references to Kevin W. Williams, Ph.D.

UT Southwestern Medical Center is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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