Research Fellow

About Us

The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center is an independent, non-profit biomedical research organization located in Torrance, California. Researchers across dozens of laboratories are working to unravel the mysteries of heart and kidney disease, cardiac complications in newborns, chronic lung disease, skin cancer, sickle cell disease, disorders of the autoimmune system, and more. Many projects are collaborative, involving experts from different areas of specialization. Discoveries made here have prevented blindness in newborns, enabled premature infants with fragile lungs to breathe, and allowed children with rare, often fatal diseases to grow up healthy and strong.

Requirements

• MD or PhD degree in Biology, Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Neuroscience, Cancer Biology, Immunology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field.
• 0-2 years of postdoctoral research experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in molecular and cellular biology techniques and a strong publication record.
• First-author publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Strong knowledge of molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, cancer biology, neuroscience, immunology, or related biomedical disciplines.
• Strong experience with qPCR/PCR and Western blotting.
• Experience with experimental design and independent project execution.
• Ability to analyze and interpret complex biological data.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with RNA sequencing, single-cell sequencing, bioinformatics, or multi-omics datasets.
• Experience with animal models and in-vivo studies.
• Familiarity with R, GraphPad Prism, ImageJ, or related analytical software is a plus.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating within multidisciplinary research teams.

Responsibilities

• Design, execute, troubleshoot, and optimize in vitro and in vivo research studies.
• Lead laboratory projects involving cancer biology, tumor immunology, neuro-oncology, and therapeutic development.
• Perform advanced mammalian cell culture using established and patient-derived cancer models.
• Conduct molecular and cellular assays including RNA isolation, qPCR, PCR, Western blotting, flow cytometry, ELISA, immunofluorescence, viability assays, apoptosis assays, and signaling pathway analysis.
• Analyze experimental data and generate publication-quality figures and reports.
• Collaborate with clinical teams to support translational research initiatives and correlative science programs.
• Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, grant applications, presentations, and scientific reports.
• Present findings at laboratory meetings, scientific conferences, and collaborator meetings.
• Mentor junior laboratory personnel, students, and research assistants.
• Maintain detailed laboratory records and ensure compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.