Post Doctoral Research Fellow- Nystoriak Lab

Masonic Medical Research Institute - MMRI; City of Utica (NY); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading research institute as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow in the Nystoriak Lab. Engage in cutting-edge cardiovascular research, leveraging advanced methodologies to illuminate molecular mechanisms. Collaborate with a vibrant team in a supportive environment, contributing to significant scientific advancements.

Benefits

Competitive NIH-scale salary

Comprehensive benefits

Personalized career-development plans

Grant-writing workshops

Qualifications

• PhD completed or expected within 6 months in a relevant field.
• Strong experimental foundation in cardiac/vascular physiology or electrophysiology.
• First-author publications demonstrating creativity and productivity.

Responsibilities

• Design and drive high-impact projects in cardiovascular function.
• Mentor and collaborate with diverse teams.
• Disseminate discoveries through publications and presentations.

Skills

Scientific Creativity

Teamwork

Critical Thinking

Education

PhD in physiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, or related

Tools

Computational modeling

High-throughput screening

Omics-scale data integration

Job description

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Who We Are
The NIH-funded Nystoriak Lab deciphers how metabolic and redox signals sculpt ion-channel behavior, myocardial perfusion, and cardiac rhythm from development through advanced age. Our multidisciplinary toolkit spans in vivo imaging and microsurgery, high-resolution electrophysiology, advanced microscopy, -omics pipelines, and computational protein modeling. MMRI (Utica, NY) offers state-of-the-art core facilities and a vibrant, collaborative research community only a short drive from New York City, Boston, Montréal, and the Adirondacks.

Description
The NIH-funded Nystoriak Lab deciphers how metabolic and redox signals sculpt ion-channel behavior, myocardial perfusion, and cardiac rhythm from development through advanced age. Our multidisciplinary toolkit spans in vivo imaging and microsurgery, high-resolution electrophysiology, advanced microscopy, -omics pipelines, and computational protein modeling. MMRI (Utica, NY) offers state-of-the-art core facilities and a vibrant, collaborative research community only a short drive from New York City, Boston, Montréal, and the Adirondacks.

Your Mission

1. Design & drive high-impact projects that illuminate the molecular choreography of cardiovascular function.
2. Leverage in vivo and ex vivo models—including advanced microsurgery, perfused heart, and slice preparations—to connect molecular events to whole-organ physiology.
3. Integrate structural predictions with electrophysiological, pharmacological, and biochemical data to reveal structure–function relationships.
4. Disseminate discoveries through first-author publications and presentations at premier international meetings.
5. Mentor & collaborate with a diverse team of trainees and external partners, shaping both lab culture and the field’s future.

What You Bring

1. PhD completed (or completion expected within 6 months) in physiology, pharmacology, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related cardiovascular discipline.
2. A solid experimental foundation in at least two of the following: cardiac or vascular physiology, cellular electrophysiology, molecular cloning & mutagenesis, biochemical assay development, in vivo imaging, or high-resolution microscopy.
3. First-author publications demonstrating creativity, productivity, and rigorous data interpretation.
4. Bonus strengths (not required but highly valued):

• Computational modeling of protein structure/function (AlphaFold, Rosetta, MD)
• High-throughput screening or drug-discovery workflows
• Omics-scale data integration (RNA-seq, proteomics, metabolomics)

A growth mindset, scientific curiosity, and enthusiasm for team-based discovery.

What We Offer

1. Competitive NIH-scale salary plus comprehensive benefits from day one.
2. Cutting-edge instrumentation with expert core support.
3. Personalized career-development plans, grant-writing workshops, and seed-funding mechanisms.
4. A culture that values balance—bold science, open collaboration, and room for life beyond the bench.
5. Affordable living in New York’s scenic Mohawk Valley with four-season outdoor recreation and easy weekend travel to major Northeast hubs.

Ready to Join?

Send a single PDF including (i) a cover letter describing your research vision and career goals, (ii) your CV, and (iii) contact information for three referees to [e-mail] with the subject line “Postdoc—Cardiovascular Systems & Molecular Physiology.”

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis; start dates are flexible.

MMRI is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a diverse and inclusive research community. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds who share our passion for advancing health.

Requirements

• A recent or pending PhD in the biological sciences or related fields.
• A research background in cell and molecular biology, cardiovascular physiology, or pharmacology, and experience with standard workflows within these fields.
• Experience with mouse microsurgery and in vivo imaging, including data acquisition and analyses, are highly desirable.
• Experience with experimental rodent models.
• Demonstrated productivity in the form of first author publications and presentations.
• Excitement to tackle difficult scientific questions in areas that will involve significant development of technical and analytical workflows.
• Scientific creativity to identify novel approaches to answer our research questions.
• Graduating in December 2024? Still a good time to apply!

Experience With Any Of The Following

• Experimental execution, performance, and data collection.
• Research Protocol.
• Scientific Terminology.
• Flexible – ability to change directions as needed for the benefit of laboratory.
• Performance Excellence – high responsibility, pleasant to work with, provides timely and accurate information.
• Organized – manages time effectively, keeps tasks appropriately prioritized.
• Critical Thinking – ability to think through issues and identify appropriate options.
• Work Ethic – motivated, diligent, industrious, and persistent in the workplace, stays on tasks to completion, works at a fast pace to ensure optimal efficiency.
• Interpersonal – can build effective, strong working relationships with colleagues and management through trust, communication, and credibility.
• Teamwork – ability to work with others, serve others, help others, take directions from others in the interest of moving process and programs forward to the desired outcome.

For Any Role

• A general love of science and all the challenges that come with it.
• Excitement to tackle challenging, multidisciplinary scientific questions in areas involving development of technical and analytical workflows.
• Scientific creativity to identify and evaluate novel approaches to answer our research questions.
• A hard working and collegial attitude.
• A desire to work in a relatively informal, highly collaborative, and scientifically rigorous team-centered laboratory environment.