Postdoctoral Associate - Regenerative Medicine

About the Role

A Postdoctoral Associate position is available in the lab of Dr. James F. Martin, Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, to study cardiac injury, repair, and regeneration. The Martin lab investigates how developmental pathways, particularly Hippo-YAP signaling, are reconnected to adult tissue regeneration, using biochemical, imaging, genomic, and computational approaches. This position emphasizes in vivo rodent surgical models of cardiac injury and transplantation, paired with molecular and genomic analysis of the resulting tissue.

Responsibilities

• Designs and conducts scientific experiments, with emphasis on rodent cardiac surgical models (heterotopic heart transplantation, myocardial infarction, ischemia-reperfusion), including perioperative and post-surgical animal monitoring.
• Performs microsurgical procedures and functional assessment (e.g., echocardiography), and maintains surgical instrumentation, supplies, and procedural records.
• Generates molecular and genetic tools; breeds and genotypes genetically modified mouse lines under approved IACUC protocols.
• Maintains documentation of reagents, such as chemicals, enzymes, and plasmids, and research protocols for the lab.
• Collects and analyzes data, including histology, imaging, physiological measurements, and genomic datasets.
• Writes primary research and review manuscripts; supports grant proposal submissions, progress reports, and reporting to external fellowship sponsors.
• Mentors other trainees (e.g., graduate students, undergraduate students, junior postdocs, research technicians), including training in surgical models.
• Participates in regular laboratory and departmental meetings, journal clubs, and institutional seminars.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• MD or Ph.D. in Basic Science, Health Science, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. with training in cardiology or cardiovascular medicine; Ph.D. in Genetics, Developmental Biology, or Cardiovascular Science also considered.
• Hands-on rodent microsurgical experience, particularly heterotopic heart transplantation, myocardial infarction, or ischemia-reperfusion models.
• Previous experience with the laboratory mouse and cell culture; expertise in molecular biology, biochemical, and cell biological techniques is advantageous.
• Strong publication record (at least one peer-reviewed primary research article) and experience presenting posters and talks at scientific meetings.

For more information, please visit Dr. James F. Martin's lab page. Baylor College of Medicine typically follows similar to the NIH stipulated stipend guidelines for Postdoctoral Associates.