Research Associate (Postdoc)

The Aguirre Lab at Michigan State University focuses on investigating heart development, congenital heart defects, and cardiovascular disease using pluripotent stem cell organoid-based models and state-of-the-art bioengineering approaches. We have made significant contributions to this field recently by reporting the first highly sophisticated human heart organoid model capable of recapitulating aspects of embryonic diabetic cardiomyopathies (Lewis-Israeli et al., 2021, Nature Comms). We have an open position for a motivated Research Associate (postdoc) whose primary project will be to develop methods to engineer human heart valves in vitro using hiPSCs and organoid technologies to model aspects of cardiac valve disease. This work will involve work with human iPSCs, scRNA-seq, heart organoids and CRISPR engineering in collaboration with clinicians. The environment in the Aguirre Lab is highly multidisciplinary and collaborative. The successful candidate will also be expected to participate in related secondary projects and collaborations with other IQ labs. The Aguirre Lab is highly committed to the academic and professional development of our trainees. BME is housed in the new Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) and has a strong core of scientists who work collaboratively across broad disciplines including: neural engineering, imaging, motion analytics, developmental biology, systems biology, synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, chemical biology and biomedical devices with an aim for clinical translation.

This position is a 12-month fixed term appointment. Renewal of position is based on funding and performance.

Specific Expectations

1. Substantially contribute to an ongoing project to generate hiPSC-derived triscuspid valves using stem cell biology and bioengineering approaches. Experimental work will include pluripotent stem cell culture, confocal microscopy, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, molecular biology, scRNA-seq and CRISPR genetic engineering techniques.
2. Present findings at national conferences and publish work in peer-reviewed journals.
3. Support and advise graduate and undergraduate students assigned to the project. 

Minimum Requirements

• A Ph.D. or equivalent degree in cell biology, biochemistry, chemistry, genetics, physiology, biomedical engineering, tissue engineering or related disciplines.

Desired Qualifications

• Candidate should have demonstrated cell and molecular biology experience, excellent oral and written communication skills and exceptional attention to detail. 
• The ideal candidate will be a motivated and creative individual with a commitment to academic research who can work independently as well as in team-based projects.
• A background or previous experience in developmental/stem cell biology, scRNA-seq, CRISPR genetic engineering, hiPSCs, cardiovascular disease or tissue engineering will be beneficial.