Cha S, Feng J, Guo T, Meng L, Chen P, Ly C, Ho TV, Sanchez-Lara PA, McElvain LE, Moore JD, Chai Y. Sensory nerve-derived signaling coordinates oropharyngeal structural organization that supports suckling and vocalization in neonatal mice. Nat Commun. 2026 Jul 14. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-74959-0. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42449098.
Author: nakaki
New Publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Ziaei H, Zhang M, Guo T, Feng J, Meng L, Araujo-Villalba A, Jing J, Ho TV, Chai Y. Epigenetic regulation of mesenchymal BMP signaling directs postnatal organ innervation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2026 Jul 7;123(27):e2605881123. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2605881123. Epub 2026 Jun 30. PMID: 42378299.
Postdoctoral Position Available
A postdoctoral position is available immediately in Professor Yang Chai’s laboratory at the Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology (CCMB) at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. We are interested in the regulation of developmental patterning, organogenesis, stem cells and regenerative medicine. Our studies seek to define molecular mechanisms governing both normal and abnormal craniofacial development, providing scientific rationales for future therapeutic strategies to prevent and treat craniofacial birth defects, as well as stem cell-based craniofacial regenerative medicine.
CCMB is located on the Health Sciences Campus of USC, which provides a vibrant, highly collaborative and interactive research environment. Postdocs will participate in weekly seminars with other researchers who are interested in developmental biology and stem cells in tissue regeneration. There are ample cross-training opportunities in areas such as bioinformatics, biomedical engineering and translational medicine. Postdocs will also have opportunities to collaborate with experts nationally and internationally.
The candidate must have a PhD and be experienced with molecular and developmental biology. Our research projects are supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH. Apply here, and please send your C.V. and three letters of recommendation to Yang Chai (c/o Ms. Stephanie Jones sjones99@usc.edu and ychai@usc.edu). EOE/AA
Some of our recent publications:
- Zhang M, Feng J, Guo T, Meng L, Pei F, Gao L, Yang Y, Ho TV, Chai Y. Canonical BAF chromatin remodeling complex specifies stem cell fate via cell-type-specific co-factor recruitment. Nat Commun. 2026 Mar 3;17(1):3361. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-70038-6. PMID: 41771870; PMCID: PMC13066034.
- Feng J, Janečková E, Guo T, Ziaei H, Zhang M, Geng JJ, Cha S, Araujo-Villalba A, Liu M, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2025) High-resolution spatial transcriptomics and cell lineage analysis reveal spatiotemporal cell fate determination during craniofacial development. Nat Commun. 2025 May 12;16(1):4396. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59206-2. PMID: 40355462.
- Pei F, Guo T, Zhang M, Ma L, Jing J, Feng J, Ho TV, Wen Q, Chai Y. (2024) FGF signaling modulates mechanotransduction/WNT signaling in progenitors during tooth root development. Bone Res. 2024 Jun 24;12(1):37. doi: 10.1038/s41413-024-00345-5. PMID: 38910207; PMCID: PMC11194271.
- Guo T, Pei F, Zhang M, Yamada T, Feng J, Jing J, Ho TV, Chai Y. (2024) Vascular architecture regulates mesenchymal stromal cell heterogeneity via P53-PDGF signaling in the mouse incisor. Cell Stem Cell. 2024 Jun 6;31(6):904-920.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.04.011. Epub 2024 May 3. PMID: 38703771; PMCID: PMC11162319.
- Yu M, Ma L, Yuan Y, Ye X, Montagne A, He J, Ho TV, Wu Y, Zhao Z, Sta Maria N, Jacobs R, Urata M, Wang H, Zlokovic BV, Chen JF, Chai Y. (2021) Cranial Suture Regeneration Mitigates Skull and Neurocognitive Defects in Craniosynostosis. Cell. 2021 Jan 7;184(1):243-256.e18. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.11.037. PMID: 33417861; PMCID: PMC7891303.
New Publication Accepted in the International Journal of Oral Science
Gao L, Chen P, Feng J, Guo T, Zhang M, Ho TV, Chen JF, Chai Y. Temporally regulated FGFR2–retinoic acid signaling mediates dura mater–suture mesenchyme interactions to prevent craniosynostosis in mice. Int J Oral Sci. Accepted.
New Publication in Nature Communications
Chen P, Meng L, Lan L, Feng J, Guo T, Gao L, Hekmat H, Ly C, Zhang M, Cha S, Ho TV, Chai Y. TGFβ-mediated dural progenitor cell migration into the coronal suture is crucial for preventing craniosynostosis. Nat Commun. 2026 May 19. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-73292-w. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 42156771.
New Publication in Bone Research
Meng L, Zhang M, Feng J, Guo T, Hekmat H, Ziaei H, Chen P, Harouni A, Ho TV, Chai Y. KDM6B safeguards mineralized tissue homeostasis from mechanical stress through epigenetic control of PIEZO1-mediated mechanotransduction in the mouse incisor. Bone Res. 2026 May 28;14(1):59. doi: 10.1038/s41413-026-00544-2. PMID: 42209460; PMCID: PMC13219498.
New Publication in Nature Communications
Zhang M, Feng J, Guo T, Meng L, Pei F, Gao L, Yang Y, Ho TV, Chai Y. Canonical BAF chromatin remodeling complex specifies stem cell fate via cell-type-specific co-factor recruitment. Nat Commun. 2026 Mar 3;17(1):3361. doi: 10.1038/s41467-026-70038-6. PMID: 41771870; PMCID: PMC13066034.
New Publication in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Meng L, Feng J, Guo T, Zhang M, Cha S, Chen P, Ziaei H, Harouni A, Ho TV, Chai Y. Piezo2+ mechanosensory neurons orchestrate postnatal development through mechano-chemo-transduction of PDGFA signaling. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Jul 15;122(28):e2504103122. doi: 10.1073/pnas.2504103122. Epub 2025 Jul 8. PMID: 40627386.
New Publication in Nature Communications
Feng J, Janečková E, Guo T, Ziaei H, Zhang M, Geng JJ, Cha S, Araujo-Villalba A, Liu M, Ho TV, Chai Y. High-resolution spatial transcriptomics and cell lineage analysis reveal spatiotemporal cell fate determination during craniofacial development. Nat Commun. 2025 May 12;16(1):4396. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-59206-2. PMID: 40355462.
New Publication Accepted in The Journal of Bone and Mineral Research
Buchanan C, Chen S, Yuan Y, Guo T, Feng J, Zhang M, Carey G, Howard I, Sanchez J, Ho TV, Chai Y. Loss of Runx2 in Gli1+ Osteogenic Progenitors Prevents Bone Loss Following Ovariectomy. JBMR Plus, 2024; ziae141, https://doi.org/10.1093/jbmrpl/ziae141.