"Postdoctoral Scientist - Heart Institute - Karlstaedt Lab"

Job Description

Grow your career at Cedars-Sinai!

Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has been named to the Honor Roll in U.S. News & World Report’s "Best Hospitals 2025-2026" rankings. When you join our team, you’ll have access to groundbreaking biomedical research facilities and world-class medical education programs. We take pride in hiring exceptional, dedicated professionals who are passionate about advancing healthcare. Our physicians, nurses, and staff reflect the culturally and ethnically diverse communities we serve and are united by a shared commitment to excellence. Together, we foster a dynamic, inclusive environment that drives innovation and supports the gold standard of patient care.

Are you ready to be a part of breakthrough research?

The Smidt Heart Institute reflects Cedars-Sinai's steadfast dedication to heart disease and research innovation giving patients access to the highest level of care. Year after year, thousands of people trust their hearts to Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai. Our cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and niche care teams treat the full spectrum of heart disease and disorders, while our investigators continue to advance the field with groundbreaking, life-saving research. From genetic counseling and targeted drug therapies to a growing array of minimally invasive procedures, Cedars-Sinai continues to stand at the forefront of technology, innovation and discovery improving patient outcomes.

The Karlstaedt Lab is looking for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join an ambitious collaborative project to decipher metabolic interactions between cancer cells and the heart. Funded in part by an active NIH/NHLBI grant, this role will involve a close collaboration in a multidisciplinary team together with collaborators within the Smidt Heart Institute and the Cedars Cancer Center.

Our research group has an established track record in the study of metabolic pathways using in vivo and ex vivo multi-omics approaches, including computational simulations of cardiac metabolism. We combine ex vivo organ perfusion techniques with stable isotope tracers to measure metabolic flux alterations. The successful candidate will have significant autonomy to develop innovative strategies for projects bridging cardiovascular research and oncology. A unique opportunity within the research group is to establish in vivo mouse models to study metabolic changes in the heart during cancer. Currently, a particular focus is on leukemia and solid tumors (e.g., colorectal cancer).

The position will also be connected to a vibrant local scientific community for translational research in Los Angeles. We seek to build on previous expertise and methods devised by our team.

Working independently but in close cooperation and in consultation with the Principal Investigator and other Research Scientist, our Research Fellow will perform routine and complex laboratory procedures throughout training period and may develop, adapt, and implement new research techniques and protocols. Will analyze and interpret data and may assist in preparation of grant proposals. You will participate in publications and presentations as author or co-author. This position is not responsible for generating grant funds.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• May assist in preparation of grant proposals but is not responsible for generating grant funds.
• May participate in publications and presentations as author or co-author.
• Designs and performs experiments. Will keep appropriate experimental records and documentation and analyze the results with the Principal Investigator.
• May develop, adapt, and implement new research techniques and protocols.
• Analyzes, interprets, summarizes and compiles data.
• Performs routine and complex laboratory procedures throughout training period.
• Operates and maintains equipment and instruments.

Qualifications

Educational Requirements:

• Doctorate (MD, PhD, VMD, or DDS) in area directly related to field of research specialization is required

Experience:

• Works independently on research projects designed by a mentor (typically the PI) within area of specialization.
• Acquires thorough technical and theoretical knowledge of research project and objectives during one to five (1-5) year post-doctoral appointment.
• Demonstrated aptitude to perform experimental protocols and procedures, including detailed data collection, and analysis and operation and maintenance of specialized equipment.
• Knowledge of safety standards and maintenance of specialized equipment.
• Knowledge of mass spectrometry, tracer studies and transgenic mouse models.
• Expertise in biological data science and data-driven discovery, scientific programming and omics data analysis, genetics will also be beneficial, as is communicating results in scientific conferences and papers.

About Us

Cedars-Sinai is a leader in providing high-quality healthcare encompassing primary care, specialized medicine and research. Since 1902, Cedars-Sinai has evolved to meet the needs of one of the most diverse regions in the nation, setting standards in quality and innovative patient care, research, teaching and community service. Today, Cedars- Sinai is known for its national leadership in transforming healthcare for the benefit of patients. Cedars-Sinai impacts the future of healthcare by developing new approaches to treatment and educating tomorrow's health professionals. Additionally, Cedars-Sinai demonstrates a commitment to the community through programs that improve the health of its most vulnerable residents.

About the Team

Cedars-Sinai is one of the largest nonprofit academic medical centers in the U.S., with 886 licensed beds, 2,100 physicians, 2,800 nurses and thousands of other healthcare professionals and staff. Choose this if you want to work in a fast-paced environment that offers the highest level of care to people in the Los Angeles that need our care the most.

Req ID : HRC0891230
Working Title : Postdoctoral Scientist - Heart Institute - Karlstaedt Lab
Department : Heart Institute
Business Entity : Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Job Category : Academic / Research
Job Specialty : Postdoctoral Scholar
Overtime Status : EXEMPT
Primary Shift : Day
Shift Duration : 8 hour
Base Pay : $62,400 - $93,600