by focusing on how timekeeping mechanisms and nuclear condensates work together to maintain protein homeostasis.
by focusing on how timekeeping mechanisms and nuclear condensates work together to maintain protein homeostasis.
In addition to circadian rhythms (~24h), biological rhythms with a period of ~12h also exist. Our lab discovered a cell-autonomous mammalian 12h-clock that operates independently of the circadian clock to regulate twice-daily oscillations in gene expression and metabolism (Zhu et al., Cell Metabolism, 2017, Pan et al., PLoS Biology, 2020, Meng et al., Nature Communications, 2020, Dion et al., Science Advances, 2022, Meng et al., Cell Reports, 2022, Asher and Zhu, Hepatology, 2022). We are now uncovering how the 12h-clock integrates with nuclear speckles—dynamic, membraneless compartments that organize RNA processing and gene regulation—to maintain protein homeostasis. Using computational modeling, biochemical reconstitution, genetic engineering, high-resolution imaging, and multi-omics, we investigate how these systems safeguard cellular function and how their disruption contributes to aging, metabolic disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases. Our long-term goal is to harness these fundamental timing and organizational mechanisms to develop novel therapeutic strategies.
For a brief introduction of our research, please check out the following videos and news coverage of our work.
4 minutes short video of our work
Bokai Zhu, Ph..D.
A native of Beijing, China, Bokai received his B.S. degree from Peking University, China and received his Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University with Dr. Jeffrey Peters. After that, he continued with his post-doctoral training with Dr. Bert W O’Malley at Baylor College of Medicine at Houston. He was later promoted to the instructor position as a junior faculty at Baylor. During his tenure at Baylor College of Medicine, his research focused on investigating the molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythms regulation and the cross-talk between circadian rhythms and hepatic cellular metabolism. Recently, he uncovered a novel mammalian 12h-clock that runs independently from the circadian rhythm to coordinate cellular stress response with metabolism. He joined the Aging Institute at Pittsburgh School of Medicine in September, 2018.
Selective Honors
A postdoctoral position is currently available. Start date is immediate and flexible. Candidates should ideally have received a doctoral degree no more than 3 years before the start date. Researchers with a passion in systemic and quantitative chronobiology, cell biology, metabolism and endocrinology, molecular biology, gene regulation and epigenetics are welcome to apply.
Graduate Student
Dr. Zhu is affiliated with Integrative Systems Biology (ISB), Cell Biology and Molecular Physiology (CBMP), Molecular Genetics and Development Biology (MGDB), and joint CMU-Pitt Program in Computational Biology (CPCB) graduate programs. Several rotation projects are currently available for prospective students.
Research Technician(s)
Please apply here.
Please email your application to Bokai, including:
A cover letter describing your past training, research interests and career goals (optional)
A detailed CV
Contact information of three referees
Room 565, Bridgeside Point 1, 100 Technology Dr, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219
Email: BZHU@pitt.edu Phone:412-383-0447
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