Scripps Staff Scientist

Dr. Ayako Makino’s laboratory seeks a skilled and motivated scientist to join our translational research team specializing in cardiovascular pathophysiology and vascular cell biology. Our research focuses on the pathogenic mechanisms of coronary vascular complications in Diabetes and Kawasaki Disease, and pulmonary vascular pathobiology in Pulmonary Hypertension. The roles of the candidate involve conducting diverse tasks crucial to supporting the lab's impactful research, encompassing multidimensional experiments and assays. The ideal candidate will demonstrate autonomy within the research team, utilizing extensive experience and sound judgment to strategize and achieve predefined objectives within research projects. A high level of creativity and latitude is expected, along with a comprehensive understanding of our research topics, laboratory concepts, practices, and procedures. The successful candidate will work as a lead investigator in one of our ongoing projects. The incumbent must have skills to conduct cardiovascular physiological and cell physiological experiments (i.e., endothelial cell isolation from mouse hearts and lungs followed by electrophysiological experiments, isometric tension experiments using 3^rd-5^th order of mouse coronary arteries,  evaluation of cardiac and vascular function using Millar system or echocardiogram in mice, isolation of exosomes from human and animal blood), and molecular biological experiments (i.e., Western Blot, PCR, qPCR, or FACS). Additionally, the role involves troubleshooting technical issues, analyzing data, and contributing to the efficient functioning of the lab to facilitate high-quality scientific outcomes.

Job duties will include but are not limited to:

• Conduct advanced cardiac and vascular physiological experiments in vivo and ex vivo and electrophysiological experiments using isolated vascular cells from mice. The cardiovascular experiments include the isolation of coronary and pulmonary endothelial cells from animals, isolation of exosomes from human and mouse blood, dissection of small arteries [coronary and pulmonary artery] for isometric tension experiments, the evaluation of cardiac and vascular function using Millar system or echocardiogram in mice, and the electrophysiological and cell-physiological experiments include the assessment of intracellular, mitochondrial, ER Ca2+ concentration, ROS (i.e., O2-, NO), cell migration, proliferation, apoptosis, and gap junction activity.
• Perform molecular biological experiments encompassing Western Blot, PCR, qPCR, and FACS.
• Coordinate with other investigators for lab research, including maintaining the function of lab equipment, managing the lab research record (including methodological approaches and animal protocols), and maintaining transgenic mouse colony.
• Responsible for data acquisition and analysis, grant and manuscript preparation, and presentation of findings at weekly lab meetings.
• Provide hands-on mentorship and training to visiting scholars, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate students, guiding them through the design and implementation of molecular biological experiments.

$62,550 to $70,000 annually DOE

Ph.D. and/or MD in an appropriate scientific discipline required. A minimum of 2 years postdoctoral experience. 

• Theoretical and working knowledge in advanced cardiovascular physiology.
• Aseptic techniques for cell culture.
• Demonstrated ability to dissect small arteries [coronary and pulmonary artery] for isometric tension experiments and isolating heart and lung vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, PCR, qPCR, and FACS.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to experimental design, analysis, interpretation of the results, and troubleshooting.
• Demonstrated experience assisting with writing scientific manuscripts and contributing to teamwork in physiological and molecular biological experiments.
• Demonstrated practical time management skills to plan and organize work assignments in an efficient and productive manner.
• Demonstrated skill in working with animals and human tissues.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the following specialized programs: SnapGene, GraphPad, EndNote, and MS Word/Excel/PowerPoint.
• Enthusiasm for learning and a genuine interest in scientific research. Willingness and ability to learn new skills, research methods, and scientific principles.

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

Please provide names and email addresses of three to five references as part of the application process. When ready, the hiring department will contact the listed references via email requesting their reference letters to be uploaded directly to the application website.