Postdoctoral Associate, Bioengineering

About the Role

The Hilton and Ghanta laboratories are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow for a newly funded NIH translational research program focused on developing innovative genetic therapies for cardiovascular disease. This collaborative program merges expertise in CRISPR-based gene regulation, synthetic biology, and therapeutic delivery with cardiovascular biology, cardiac surgery, and preclinical models of heart disease. The successful candidate will advance genetic technologies from molecular development through in vivo validation and toward clinical and commercial translation. The postdoctoral associate will be appointed at Rice University and co-advised by Dr. Isaac Hilton and Dr. Ravi Ghanta, with substantial engagement across both laboratories and collaboration with Dr. Mario Escobar and other investigators at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine.

Key Responsibilities

• Leads the development and preclinical evaluation of CRISPR-based therapeutic technologies for cardiovascular disease.
• Designs, executes, analyzes, and troubleshoots molecular, cellular, and in vivo research studies.
• Evaluates therapeutic efficacy, delivery, biodistribution, and safety using complementary molecular and functional assays.
• Coordinates experiments, research activities, and data integration across collaborating research teams.
• Independently analyzes and interprets research data and communicates findings.
• Contributes to research project planning and advancement of project objectives.
• Prepares and contributes to manuscripts, presentations, technical reports, patents, and grant proposals.
• Mentors junior researchers and contributes to a collaborative, interdisciplinary research environment.
• Participates in intellectual property development, commercialization planning, and related translational activities.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in bioengineering, biomedical engineering, molecular or cellular biology, physiology, cardiovascular science, gene therapy, synthetic biology, pharmaceutical science, or a related field.
• No additional experience beyond graduate research is required.
• Experience with CRISPR or other gene-editing or gene-regulation technologies.
• Experience with viral or nonviral therapeutic delivery systems.
• Experience with preclinical efficacy, biodistribution, or safety studies.
• Demonstrated interest in working across interdisciplinary research teams and translating fundamental research toward clinical applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Candidates with expertise in mitochondrial biology and in vivo experience with small and large animal models are preferred.
• Interest in commercialization and entrepreneurship is also prioritized.
• Hands-on experience with mammalian in vivo research, mitochondrial biology, disease models, or preclinical therapeutic development.
• Experience with cardiovascular disease models, cardiac physiology, or animal surgery.
• Experience with small- and/or large-animal research models.
• Interest in translational research, intellectual property development, commercialization, or biotechnology entrepreneurship.

Workplace Requirements

• On campus position: This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in person at Rice University.

Hiring Information

• Hiring Range: $64,000 annually, with the potential for a higher starting salary based on relevant postdoctoral experience and in accordance with applicable NIH stipend guidance.
• This is a full-time, term-limited position funded by grant, soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on funding availability, ongoing research needs, and satisfactory performance.
• Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
• Anticipated start date: Fall 2026