Research Associate II, - SOM Cardiac Lab

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Laboratory Animal Sciences Program (LASP) provides exceptional quality animal care and technical support services for laboratory and animal research performed at the National Cancer Institute at the Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research. LASP executes this mission by providing a broad spectrum of husbandry, veterinary, state-of-the-art technology, and pre-clinical scientific services. LASP also provides primary support to the Standardized Organoid Modeling (SOM) Initiative to address the need for validated, scalable, and reproducible organoid-based Novel Alternative Methods (NAMs) in biomedical research. Our team provides technical infrastructure, operational integration, and specialized expertise to drive the development and optimization of organoid models of normal (non-cancerous) human tissues derived from a wide range of tissue types and donor sources. POSITION OVERVIEW The Standardized Organoid Modeling (SOM) Initiative is seeking a highly skilled, motivated, and experienced Research Associate II to join the Cardiac Tissue Engineering Laboratory, directed by Dr. Aitor Aguirre. The SOM Initiative aims to advance human organoid technologies by establishing validated, scalable, and reproducible organoid-based New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for biomedical research. The initiative focuses on developing physiologically relevant models of normal human tissues, with an emphasis on standardization, quality control, and broad applicability across research and translational settings. The successful candidate will play an important technical role in the development, optimization, and characterization of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cardiac organoids. Our laboratory integrates stem cell biology, cardiac developmental biology, tissue engineering, and advanced functional phenotyping to generate multicellular cardiac tissues that reproduce key structural, cellular, and physiological features of the human heart. The Research Associate II will independently execute complex experimental procedures, optimize and validate organoid differentiation protocols, develop and implement quality-control methods, and support the establishment of reliable and reproducible cardiac organoid production workflows. Working closely with scientists and other laboratory personnel, the successful candidate will contribute to the development of standardized experimental platforms and provide technical expertise essential to the scientific mission of the SOM Cardiac Laboratory. RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT AND OPPORTUNITIES The SOM Cardiac Tissue Engineering Laboratory offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment dedicated to advancing human organoid technologies and biomedical innovation. The successful candidate will contribute to pioneering research, develop cutting-edge technologies, establish standards for cardiac organoids, and generate high-impact scientific work. We seek highly motivated, creative, and collaborative individuals passionate about breakthrough science and advancing human disease modeling, drug discovery, and translational research. KEY ROLES/RESPONSIBILITIES The Research Associate II position in the Cardiac Lab within the SOM Center will: Independently perform and troubleshoot complex experimental procedures involving human iPSC maintenance, differentiation, and the generation of three-dimensional cardiac organoids. Develop, optimize, and validate cardiac organoid culture protocols, differentiation procedures, and experimental assays. Maintain and evaluate the quality of human pluripotent stem cell cultures. Independently perform advanced cellular, molecular, and functional characterization of cardiac organoids, including immunofluorescence, microscopy, quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, and other relevant experimental techniques. Implement and optimize functional assays to evaluate cardiac organoid function. Develop, refine, and maintain standardized operating procedures (SOPs), technical documentation, experimental records, and laboratory workflows to support consistent organoid production and characterization. Provide technical guidance and training to junior laboratory personnel, including support for standardized cell culture procedures, assay execution, equipment operation, and laboratory best practices. Collaborate with scientists and multidisciplinary teams across the SOM Initiative to implement standardized methodologies, support experimental validation, and contribute to the integration of biological and functional datasets. Contribute to scientific reports, technical presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and the development of new experimental methodologies, as appropriate. BASIC QUALIFICATIONS To be considered for this position, you must minimally meet the knowledge, skills, and abilities listed below: Possession of Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university according to the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) or four (4) years relevant experience in lieu of degree. Foreign degrees must be evaluated for U.S. equivalency. In addition to the education requirement, a minimum of five (5) years of cardiac organoid biology or related experience. Must possess basic Microsoft Office skills. Ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Candidates with these desired skills will be given preferential consideration: Bachelor's or master's degree in Cell Biology, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Stem Cell Biology, or a closely related discipline. Experience with human pluripotent stem cell culture, including iPSC or ESC maintenance, expansion, cryopreservation, quality control, and directed differentiation. Experience with three-dimensional cell culture systems, cardiac organoids, spheroids, or tissue engineering applications. Strong understanding of stem cell biology, cardiovascular biology, cardiac development. Proven ability to independently execute, troubleshoot, optimize, and validate complex experimental protocols. Experience with advanced molecular and cellular characterization techniques, including immunofluorescence, confocal microscopy, flow cytometry, quantitative PCR, and protein analysis. Familiarity with functional characterization of cardiac tissues, including calcium imaging, contractility measurements, electrophysiology, optical mapping, or related assays. Experience with automated imaging platforms, high-content imaging, quantitative image analysis, or laboratory automation. Demonstrated expertise in experimental quality control, assay validation, SOP development, reproducibility assessment, or standardized cell production workflows. Experience training junior laboratory personnel, coordinating experimental activities, or providing technical oversight of research workflows. Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills, with demonstrated attention to detail and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively. Candidates with demonstrated expertise in human stem cell culture, complex biological assays, and the development of robust and reproducible experimental methodologies are particularly encouraged to apply. JOB HAZARDS This position is subject to working with or has the potential for exposure to infectious material, requiring medical clearance and immunizations.