"Postdoctoral Research Associate - Cardiology"

Position Summary

The Shen Lab within the Division of Cardiology and Department of Medicine at WashU Medicine in St. Louis, USA, is recruiting for a Postdoctoral Research Associate. Our lab specializes in precision cardiovascular medicine, leveraging cutting-edge approaches such as human iPSC-derived 2D cardiovascular cells, 3D vascularized cardioids, CRISPR gene editing, high-throughput CRISPRko/i/a screening, single-cell multiomics, tissue engineering, and animal models.

Our current research primarily focuses on four key areas: 1) Developing robust, chemically defined differentiation protocols to generate diverse cardiovascular cell types from iPSCs, enabling advanced cardiovascular disease modeling and cell therapy applications (Nature Cardiovascular Research 2023; Circulation 2023; Circulation Research 2021, Circulation 2019), 2) Uncovering genetic drivers of anti-cancer drug-induced cardiovascular toxicity through integrated iPSC models and high-throughput CRISPRi/a screening (Cell Stem Cell 2024), 3) Deciphering pathogenic coding and non-coding variants linked to congenital heart disease in a cell type-specific manner (Cell 2022), and 4) Combining iPSC-derived cells and single-cell perturb sequencing to establish foundational models to predict the effects of potential drug candidates on cardiovascular diseases. By combining genome engineering, functional genomics, and tissue models, we aim to advance mechanistic insights and therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.

We are seeking highly motivated, creative postdoctoral fellows to drive innovations in cardiovascular precision medicine. We welcome candidates with expertise in iPSC biology, functional genomics, developmental biology, cardiovascular disease, and/or bioinformatics to explore the intersection of cardiovascular physiology, cancer biology, and regenerative medicine. This position offers the opportunity to develop translational research projects using cutting-edge approaches in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment.

Our lab provides a collaborative and supportive culture that champions teamwork, scientific curiosity, and innovation. Successful candidates will lead impactful research initiatives while receiving personalized mentorship to foster their growth as independent investigators. We are committed to your career success, offering dedicated support for fellowship applications, training grants, and transition to independence, along with opportunities to develop leadership and mentoring skills.

WashU offers outstanding research infrastructure and professional development resources through its Career Center, Teaching Center, and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs. As part of our vibrant scientific community, you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and a network of interdisciplinary collaborators.

Job Description

Primary Duties & Responsibilities:

Information on being a postdoc at WashU in St. Louis can be found at https://postdoc.wustl.edu/prospective-postdocs-2/.

Working Conditions:

This position works in a laboratory environment with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards. The individual must be physically able to wear protective equipment and to provide standard care to research animals.

Salary Range:

Base pay is commensurate with experience.

Required Qualifications

Education: Ph.D., M.D. Or Equivalent Terminal Or Doctoral Degree.

Certifications/Professional Licenses: No specific certification/professional license is required for this position.

Work Experience: No specific work experience is required for this position.

Preferred Qualifications

• A track record of research productivity, as evidenced by first-authored original publication(s) in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
• Expertise in one or more of the following areas: stem cell biology, functional genomics, cell biology, and cardiovascular physiology.
• Experience or interest in programming languages such as R or Python.
• Independence to lead a project as well as willingness to work in a team.
• An open mind to learn new methods from other researchers and collaborators.
• Good scientific presentation and writing skills.