Research Associate, Kidney and Cardiovascular

About the Role

The Division of Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension in the Department of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania seeks a Research Associate in the Academic Support Staff. This appointment will be initially for one (1) year, with continuation and renewal based on satisfactory performance and funding availability, limited to three (3) years.

Key Responsibilities

• Designing and conducting biomedical research focused on molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying kidney and cardiovascular-metabolic diseases, with an emphasis on diabetic kidney disease and therapeutic responses to SGLT2 inhibitors.
• Designing and performing molecular and cellular experiments.
• Utilizing genetically modified mouse models to investigate disease mechanisms.
• Performing advanced molecular biology techniques, including gene expression analysis, plasmid construction, and primary cell isolation and culture.
• Conducting computational analyses of human genetic, single-cell/single-nucleus RNA sequencing, and high-resolution spatial transcriptomic datasets.
• Integrating multi-omics data to identify disease-associated cellular states, molecular pathways, and therapeutic responses.
• Conducting functional validation studies.
• Interpreting experimental findings.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary research teams and external research facilities.
• Independently designing and leading multidisciplinary biomedical research projects.
• Integrating human genetics, single-cell/spatial transcriptomics, and spatial metabolomics with experimental disease models.
• Conducting advanced molecular and cellular studies.
• Contributing to scientific discoveries to improve understanding of kidney injury, disease progression, and therapeutic mechanisms.
• Participating in a collaborative biomedical research program focused on understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying kidney and cardiovascular-metabolic diseases.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Expertise in molecular and cellular biology, kidney disease research, cardiovascular-metabolic disease research, human genetics, genomics, or a closely related biomedical research field.
• Demonstrated experience in experimental design.
• Demonstrated experience in advanced molecular biology techniques.
• Demonstrated experience with genetically modified animal models.
• Demonstrated experience in computational analysis and interpretation of complex biomedical datasets.
• Experience with single-cell/single-nucleus RNA sequencing is highly desirable.
• Experience with spatial transcriptomics is highly desirable.
• Experience with multi-omics data integration is highly desirable.
• Experience with gene expression analysis is highly desirable.
• Experience with primary cell culture is highly desirable.
• Experience with functional validation studies is highly desirable.
• Research experience involving diabetic kidney disease, kidney injury and fibrosis, cardiovascular disease mechanisms, or metabolic disorders is preferred.
• Experience with spatial metabolomics is mentioned in current research initiatives.

Qualifications

• An M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. or equivalent degree.