What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Fellow/Post-doctoral Position position at Tufts Medical Center?
Company Description
Tufts Medical Center is a world-renowned academic medical center that has provided exceptional care across New England for more than 200 years. With a comprehensive range of services—including primary care, a Level I Trauma Center, a leading heart transplant program, and more than 100 medical specialties—our clinicians deliver innovative, patient-centered care every day.
As the principal teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center offers a dynamic environment for clinical training, academic collaboration, and translational research. As a leading research institution, Tufts conducts impactful biomedical and health policy research that advances clinical practice and improves healthcare systems. This unique combination of clinical excellence, education, and research provides an outstanding foundation for career growth and professional development.
Position Description
Tufts Medical Center is seeking a highly motivated Research Fellow/Postdoctoral Fellow to join the laboratory of Dr. Imran Aslam. This is a full-time, on-site position based in Boston, Massachusetts.
The successful candidate will design and conduct independent research projects, including developing hypotheses, designing experimental protocols, performing laboratory and computational analyses, and interpreting results. Responsibilities include managing day-to-day research activities, collecting and analyzing data, preparing manuscripts, contributing to grant applications, and presenting findings at scientific meetings. The fellow will collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across Tufts University and Tufts Medical Center and will participate in mentoring students and trainees while adhering to institutional policies governing research integrity and laboratory safety.
Although this position is mentored, the successful candidate will be expected to progressively develop into an independent investigator capable of generating novel research directions, leading projects, and contributing to the long-term scientific vision of the laboratory.
Research Focus
The Aslam Laboratory investigates the molecular mechanisms regulating myocardial function during cardiac injury, with a particular focus on heart failure and cardiogenic shock using both human samples and animal models.
A major component of this position involves the analysis of multi-omics datasets, including:
- Bulk RNA sequencing
- Single-cell RNA sequencing
- Spatial transcriptomics
- Proteomics
Competitive applicants should have demonstrated experience analyzing these datasets and collaborating with multidisciplinary investigators. Proficiency in RStudio and/or Python is required.
The fellow will be expected to lead computational analyses, generate novel scientific hypotheses, contribute to publications, and develop preliminary data for future grant applications. While mentorship and additional training will be provided, the successful candidate should be capable of working independently and driving projects forward.
Experimental Responsibilities
The laboratory has established a permeabilized cardiac myocyte mechanics platform to measure cardiomyocyte mechanics.
A research technician is currently being trained on this system under Dr. Aslam's supervision. The postdoctoral fellow will receive formal training and will subsequently be expected to:
- Independently operate the myocyte mechanics system
- Analyze and interpret functional data
- Develop a mechanistic understanding of the assay
- Design experiments investigating cardiomyocyte function
Additional Laboratory Techniques
The successful candidate will also participate in a variety of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including:
- DNA, RNA, and protein extraction
- RT-qPCR
- Western blotting
- Mitochondrial isolation & Seahorse metabolic flux analysis
- Tissue harvesting and histological staining
- Pressure Volume loop acquisition and analysis from animals and humans
Previous experience with some of these techniques is expected, although extensive expertise in every method is not required. The laboratory is committed to providing additional training where appropriate. Candidates should demonstrate the ability to acquire new technical skills and achieve independence within a reasonable training period.
Qualifications
Required
- PhD, MD, or equivalent doctoral degree in a relevant biomedical field
- Demonstrated experience with transcriptomic and/or other omics data analysis
- Proficiency in R (RStudio) and/or Python
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary research environment
Preferred
- Experience with cardiac biology, cardiovascular physiology, or heart failure research
- Familiarity with animal models of cardiovascular disease
- Experience with molecular biology and biochemical techniques
- Experience preparing manuscripts and scientific presentations
This position offers an outstanding opportunity to develop expertise in cardiovascular biology, multi-omics data science, and translational research within a collaborative academic medical center.