Assistant Project Scientist Position in Cardiology - Deb Lab 2026-2027

University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA); Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 79,000 - 92,000; Full time

Job summary

The Deb Laboratory in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine at UCLA seeks an Assistant Project Scientist to lead research on the methionine salvage pathway (MSP) and its metabolite in cardiovascular disease. This is an independent, research-intensive role within a well-funded program supported by NIH grants.

The successful candidate will design and lead projects, work with genetically engineered mouse models, perform advanced metabolomics and single-cell sequencing, and contribute

Qualifications

• Ph.D. or equivalent required.
• Direct research experience with cardiac metabolism.
• Experience with mouse models and echocardiographic/hemodynamic phenotyping.
• Proficiency in standard molecular and biochemical techniques.
• Expertise in single-cell/single-nucleus multiome analysis and epigenomic profiling.
• Experience with stem cell, iPSC or organoid culture systems.
• Publications in high-impact journals in cardiovascular research, metabolism or cell biology.

Responsibilities

• Design, lead and execute research projects on MSP regulation of cardiac metabolism and epigenome in cardiovascular disease.
• Utilize and develop mouse models, including conditional knockouts, for disease studies.
• Perform in vivo/in vitro isotope tracing, metabolomics and energetics analyses.
• Generate and analyze single-cell multi-omics and metabolomics datasets.
• Establish human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and organoids for validation studies.
• Prepare manuscripts, figures and progress reports; contribute to grants.

Skills

Cardiac metabolism

Mouse models

Molecular techniques

Single-cell multiomics

iPSC/organoid culture

Grant writing

Education

Ph.D. or equivalent

Job description

Salary range: See Table 37-B. A reasonable estimate for this position is $79,400 - $92,200.

Application Window

Open date: October 13, 2026

Next review date: Thursday, Nov 12, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)

Final date: Thursday, Nov 12, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date.

Position Description

The Deb Laboratory in the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA is seeking an Assistant Project Scientist to lead research on the role of the methionine salvage pathway (MSP) and its metabolite in cardiovascular disease. This is an independent, research-intensive position within a well-funded, highly collaborative program supported by NIH grants. The successful candidate will investigate how MSP-dependent molecular and metabolic mechanisms regulate cardiac function, remodeling and organ repair, and will help translate these findings into therapeutic strategies. A Ph.D. or equivalent is required.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design, lead and execute research projects on the molecular mechanisms by which the methionine salvage pathway regulates cardiac metabolism and the cardiac epigenome in cardiovascular disease.
• Utilize and further develop genetically engineered mouse models of cardiovascular disease, including cell-type-specific conditional knockout models.
• Perform and interpret in vivo/in vitro isotope metabolic tracing, targeted and untargeted metabolomics, and energetics studies.
• Generate and analyze single-cell multi-omics sequencing, methylation sequencing and metabolomics datasets, integrating them with human heart failure cohort data.
• Establish and apply human iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte and organoid systems for mechanistic and target-validation studies.
• Prepare manuscripts, figures and conference presentations; contribute to grant applications and progress reports.
• Train and mentor graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and technicians.
• Contribute to collaborative projects on tissue repair and translational therapeutics.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct research experience with the cardiac metabolism research.
• Experience with mouse models and echocardiographic/hemodynamic phenotyping.
• Proficiency in standard molecular and biochemical techniques.
• Expertise in single-cell/single-nucleus multiome analysis and epigenomic profiling.
• Experience with stem cell, iPSC or organoid culture systems.
• Publications in high-impact journals in cardiovascular research, metabolism or cell biology.

The shared values of the DGSOM are expressed in the Cultural North Star, which was developed by members of our community and affirms our unswerving commitment to doing what's right, making things better, and being kind. These are the standards to which we hold ourselves, and one another. Please read more about this important DGSOM program at Cultural North Star.

Basic Qualifications

A Ph.D. or equivalent is required.

Preferred Qualifications

1. Direct research experience with the cardiac metabolism research.
2. Experience with mouse models and echocardiographic/hemodynamic phenotyping.
3. Proficiency in standard molecular and biochemical techniques.
4. Expertise in single-cell/single-nucleus multiome analysis and epigenomic profiling.
5. Experience with stem cell, iPSC or organoid culture systems.
6. Publications in high-impact journals in cardiovascular research, metabolism or cell biology.

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• UCLA Mission Statement - As the nation's premier public research university, UC's mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. We have a particular responsibility to the people of California which we express in the excellence of the education we provide, the impact of the research we do, the comprehensive, life-saving medical services we provide, and the public service mission we are devoted to. The University of California promotes the social mobility of its students, equips them with the tools and experience that furthers their ambitions, and regards their accomplishments across the life span as evidence of the profoundly positive impact of higher education.

  The UCLA campus has expressed these goals in its strategic plan as follows:

  Deepen our engagement with Los Angeles

  Expand our reach as a global university

  Enhance our research and creative activities

  Elevate how we teach

  Become a more effective institution

  Prompt for candidates for recruitment:

  Reflecting on your personal and professional experiences, highlight your past contributions and future commitments to advancing UCLA's mission as embodied in the 2023-28 strategic plan. These accomplishments and ambitions may be discussed in the context of describing your teaching, scholarship, and service.

Reference requirements

• 2 required (contact information only)

Please provide contact information of 2 references.

About UCLA

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

• “Misconduct” means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Aff...

Job location

Los Angeles, CA