Adjunct Researcher - Heart & Vascular Institute

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The Heart and Vascular Institute at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA, is seeking an Adjunct Researcher to study the interactions between the hepatic comorbidities, heart failure and Kupffer cells using a variety of wet (ligand assays, western blotting, cloning) and dry (computational modeling, and docking) lab techniques. This position is to study cardio‑hepatic cross‑talk and how hepatic diseases alter heart failure progression.

Our laboratory uses multidisciplinary approaches to study the role of different immune subsets in regulating left‑ventricular remodeling and cardiac dysfunction during heart failure. Our research spans from human to animal studies, employing novel imaging and electrophysiologic techniques such as flow cytometry, vesicular analysis and echocardiography.

Duties include (but are not limited to):

• Perform small animal cardiac structure and functional analysis. This includes independently performing small animal echocardiography, real‑time measurements of function using 2D, M‑mode, & Doppler technology, as well as data analysis. Tissue harvesting, staining and flow analysis for immune cell subsets. Perform data analysis.
• Maintain cell line, perform pharmacological assays of cell lines with the microplate reader, perform Western blotting assays and quantitative RT‑PCR assays related to hepatic function and Kupffer cells.
• Independently monitor and carry out oversight of animal lines including transgenic mice colony maintenance, employing gel electrophoresis and PCR techniques. Analyze and plot data obtained from the assays performed.
• Provide training of other technicians to ensure that duties above are properly and aptly executed.

Candidates will possess a doctoral degree with expertise in molecular biology, experience with in‑vivo and in‑vitro models of inflammation testing, and computational methods of drug design and docking. Experience with cell culture techniques and demonstrated ability to isolate and culture primary cells is essential. The candidate will also be expected to analyze the data collected.

6+ years relevant experience

Doctoral Degree required

An equivalent combination of education and experience accepted

Interested candidates should apply on‑line.

Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies.

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