Research Associate - Cardiac Gene Therapy
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX
Job posting number: #7370443 (Ref:26258-en_US)
Posted: September 12, 2026
Job Description
Summary
Step into a pivotal role as a Research Associate and help drive groundbreaking discoveries! You will be an integral part of the Laboratory for Translational Therapeutics, passionately supporting our mission to develop innovative strategies for treating human disease. In this dynamic position, you will be at the forefront of exciting science, focusing on controlling immunomodulation to reduce heart and lung fibrosis and harnessing novel CRISPR systems to conquer bioenergetic deficiencies. You will take ownership of your research, directly shaping our success through the expert planning, execution, and occasional supervision of vital projects using in vitro and in vivo models. Applicants with any experience in at least one of the following are encouraged to apply: cardiovascular biology, gene therapies or surgical animal models.
Job Duties
- Independently performs rodent (rat/mouse) survival and non-survival surgeries for cardiovascular disease models (e.g., LAD ligation, intramyocardial injection)
- Plans and executes molecular cloning workflows (e.g., PCR, Gibson assembly, plasmid preparation) with minimal oversight
- Performs in vitro experiments and routine tissue culture (e.g., transfection, cell line maintenance) to support vector production and independent experimental aims
- Acquires, processes, and analyzes in vivo and ex vivo data, including cardiac functional measurements (e.g., echocardiography, ECG, IVIS imaging) and tissue-based analyses following harvest (e.g., IF, IHC)
- May supervise, schedule and coordinate the activities of less experienced research staff
- Provides occasional supervision and task delegation; titles overseen may include undergraduate student researchers
- Performs other job related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Master's degree in Basic Science or a related field.Experience in lieu of degree will not be accepted.
- Three years of relevant experience typically as a Research Assistant, Research Technician or Postdoctoral Fellow/Associate.
Preferred Qualifications
- PhD in a related field
- Experience with animal surgery
- Experience with molecular cloning workflows (e.g., PCR, Gibson assembly, plasmid preparation)
- Background in cardiovascular biology or cardiomyopathies
Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.
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Baylor College of Medicine fosters diversity among its students, trainees, faculty and staff as a prerequisite to accomplishing our institutional mission, and setting standards for excellence in training healthcare providers and biomedical scientists, promoting scientific innovation, and providing patient-centered care. - Diversity, respect, and inclusiveness create an environment that is conducive to academic excellence, and strengthens our institution by increasing talent, encouraging creativity, and ensuring a broader perspective. - Diversity helps position Baylor to reduce disparities in health and healthcare access and to better address the needs of the community we serve. - Baylor is committed to recruiting and retaining outstanding students, trainees, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds by providing a welcoming, supportive learning environment for all members of the Baylor community.
