Asst Research Scientist/Engin

The University of Iowa; Iowa City (IA); On-site; USD 51,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Iowa's Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery seeks an Assistant Research Scientist to lead independent research on tissue injury, repair, and transplantation mechanisms. The role spans two labs, focusing on airway and cardiovascular studies, with expertise in animal models, surgical procedures, histology, and molecular analyses.

The candidate will develop and execute experiments, manage complex animal studies, analyze data, train staff, and contribute to manuscripts and grant

Qualifications

• MD or PhD in medicine, physiology, cell or molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or a related scientific field.
• At least three years of postdoctoral research experience related to experimental cardiovascular or pulmonary physiology, cardiothoracic surgical research, or preclinical models of tissue injury and repair.
• Experience performing thoracic and/or cardiovascular surgical procedures in experimental animals.
• Experience with animal research procedures, physiological data collection, and postoperative monitoring and care.
• Experience with tissue histology, microscopy, image analysis, and molecular techniques involving the isolation and analysis of DNA, RNA, or proteins.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan, execute, troubleshoot, and analyze research studies, with progressively responsible research experience and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across laboratories and train research staff, students, and fellows.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Support studies comparing airway basal stem cells and gland cells for airway repair and injury recovery.
• Perform and optimize airway cell isolation, tracheal scaffold prep, recellularization, and ex vivo air-liquid interface culture.
• Use imaging and image analysis to measure epithelial coverage and cell differentiation.
• Develop reproducible injury methods and quantify epithelial recovery.
• Assist murine and ferret transplantation studies including surgical procedures and tissue procurement.
• Coordinate experimental schedules, maintain records, and develop reproducible protocols.
• Perform endothelial and smooth muscle cell isolation, expansion, and molecular assays.
• Support cross-lab coordination and data analysis for vascular allograft studies.
• Coordinate specimen collection and ensure study documentation across two labs.

Skills

Postdoctoral experience

Animal surgery experience

Histology and microscopy

Molecular biology techniques

Fluorescence imaging

Data analysis (qPCR, proteomics)

Independent project development

Training research personnel

Education

MD or PhD in medicine, physiology, cell or molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or related field

Tools

Immunofluorescence

qPCR

Tissue histology

Protein chemistry

Proteomics

Job description

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is hiring an Assistant Research Scientist to carry out independent research projects focused on mechanisms of tissue injury, repair, and chronic rejection relevant to heart and lung transplantation. The position will share effort between two laboratories conducting complementary airway and cardiovascular research. The ideal candidate will have proven experience investigating cardiovascular and pulmonary physiology and tissue responses to injury using experimental animal models, advanced surgical techniques, and histological and molecular analyses. The candidate should be able to independently develop and execute experiments, manage complex animal studies, analyze findings, train research personnel, and contribute to manuscripts and grant applications.

Position Responsibilities

• Support studies comparing surface airway basal stem cells and submucosal gland myoepithelial cells for their ability to reconstruct airway epithelium and repair subsequent injury.
• Perform and optimize airway cell isolation and expansion, tracheal scaffold preparation and recellularization, and ex vivo air-liquid interface culture.
• Use fluorescence imaging, immunofluorescence staining, and quantitative image analysis to measure donor-derived epithelial coverage, cell density, and basal, ciliated, and secretory cell differentiation.
• Develop and apply reproducible focal epithelial injury methods and quantify the subsequent recovery of epithelial coverage and cellular composition.
• Support the laboratory’s broader ferret airway reconstruction and transplantation studies through surgical procedures, tissue procurement, postoperative animal care, and assessment of graft healing.
• Coordinate experimental schedules and specimen collection across the two laboratories, maintain research records, and help develop reproducible protocols.
• Perform and optimize coronary and myocardial endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells isolation and expansion, and perform a wide array of molecular, cellular, and pharmacological assays including but not limited to protein chemistry, proteomics, gene editing, qPCR, immunoassays
• Use fluorescence imaging, immunofluorescence staining, and quantitative image analysis to measure cell growth, proliferation, inhibition, repair and migration assays
• Develop and apply reproducible vascular interposition assays to study allograft vasculopathy phenotype
• Support the laboratory’s broader murine transplantation studies through surgical procedures, tissue procurement, postoperative animal care, and assessment of graft healing.
• Coordinate experimental schedules and specimen collection across the two laboratories, maintain research records, and help develop reproducible protocols.

Minimum Eligibility Requirements

• M.D. or Ph.D. in medicine, physiology, cell or molecular biology, biomedical sciences, or a related scientific field.
• At least three years of postdoctoral research experience related to experimental cardiovascular or pulmonary physiology, cardiothoracic surgical research, or preclinical models of tissue injury and repair.
• Experience performing thoracic and/or cardiovascular surgical procedures in experimental animals.
• Experience with animal research procedures, physiological data collection, and postoperative monitoring and care.
• Experience with tissue histology, microscopy, image analysis, and molecular techniques involving the isolation and analysis of DNA, RNA, or proteins.
• Demonstrated ability to independently plan, execute, troubleshoot, and analyze research studies, with progressively responsible research experience and a strong record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across laboratories and train research staff, students, and fellows.
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

Highly Desired Qualifications

More than five years of postdoctoral research experience in cardiovascular or pulmonary research, including progressively independent responsibility for experimental animal studies.

Extensive experience performing complex cardiovascular procedures in large animals, particularly porcine and canine models, including survival surgery and postoperative management.

Advanced surgical training with experience in congenital cardiovascular surgery, vascular reconstruction, and/or experimental endovascular procedures.

Experience establishing or managing experimental cardiopulmonary bypass and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), including physiological assessment during support and recovery.

Research experience involving myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, right ventricular pressure overload, or metabolic responses to mechanical circulatory support.

Research experience involving experimental lung injury, surfactant deficiency, mechanical ventilation, or aerosolized pulmonary therapeutic delivery.

Detailed knowledge of cardiovascular and thoracic anatomy, together with experience in tissue histology and staining, microscopy, and quantitative image analysis.

Experience acquiring and interpreting cardiovascular imaging data, particularly echocardiography and angiography.

Experience with metabolomic analyses using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to investigate tissue metabolism and responses to physiological stress.

Experience conducting research across multiple animal species, including rodents, rabbits, and large animals.

Demonstrated experience supervising research personnel, teaching surgical and experimental techniques to fellows, and coordinating studies involving multiple investigators or industry collaborators.

We have an environment where everyone has a voice that is heard; that promotes the dignity of our patients, trainees, and employees; and allows all to thrive in their health, work, research, and education.

We achieve and deliver our personal and collective best in the pursuit of quality and accessible health care, education, and research.

We collaborate with health care systems, providers, and communities across Iowa and the region as well as within our UI community. We believe teamwork-guided by compassion is the best way to work.

A ccountability

We behave ethically, act with fairness and integrity, take responsibility for our own actions, and respond when errors in behavior or judgment occur.

R espect

We create an environment where every individual feels safe, valued, and respected, supporting the well‑being and success of all members of our community.

E mpowerment

We commit to fair access to research, health care, and education for our community and opportunities for personal and professional growth for our staff and learners.

Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification.

References: Five professional references will be requested and required at a later step in the recruitment process

• Classification Title: Asst Research Scientist/Engin
• Appointment Type: Professional and Scientific
• Schedule: Full-time
• Work Modality Options: On Campus

Compensation

• Starting Salary Minimum: 56697

Equal opportunity employer

The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, or associational preferences.

Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, [phone] or [e-mail] . For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543 .