Postdoctoral Research Associate

Overview

Hiring Department
:
Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine

Location
:
Chicago, IL USA

Requisition : 1039095

Posting Close Date
:

Salary
:
The budgeted salary range for the position is $50,000 to $65,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity.

UIC is among the nation’s preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting‑edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent “Best Colleges” rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities.

UIC has over 300,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Two postdoctoral positions are immediately available in the laboratory of Dr. Sang‑Ging Ong in the Department of Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Illinois Chicago. The Ong lab is stably funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and institutional funding. Using transgenic mouse models and human iPSC‑derived cells, the Ong lab seeks to understand the molecular and biological mechanisms underlying various cardiovascular diseases through cellular, genetic, and biochemical approaches.

We are particularly interested in two major areas: cardio‑oncology and cardiometabolic diseases. We study mechanisms related to mitochondrial biology, post‑transcriptional and translational regulation (RNA biology), and also interorgan crosstalk especially between adipose tissue and the heart. Recent work from the lab, as corresponding or co‑corresponding author, has been published in reputable journals such as Advanced Science (2025), Journal of Clinical Investigation (2025), Nature Aging (2024), Circulation Research (2024), Nature Communications (2023), Cardiovascular Research (2023), and Stem Cell Reports (2019).

• Conduct independent and collaborative research on cardiovascular and adipose biology.
• Keep abreast of advances in stem cell biology, cardiac biology, adipose biology, RNA biology and related technologies, and provide forward‑looking input to the group's research directions.
• Prepare high‑quality manuscripts and conference presentations, and, where appropriate, contribute to grant applications.
• Contribute to mentoring junior lab members and to general laboratory duties.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

• Recent or upcoming PhD or MD/PhD degree and a strong record of peer‑reviewed publications with at least two first‑author manuscripts (IF>5) is essential.
• Candidates should have experience working in one of the following areas:
  1) stem cell biology/chemical biology,
  2) mouse models of cardiovascular diseases,
  3) mouse models of adipose biology, or
  4) epigenetics/epitranscriptomics/RNA biology.
• Good scientific writing skills and proficiency in reading and communicating in English.
• Excellent teamwork spirit, good communication skills, and a high level of motivation and independence.

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non‑discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E‑Verify.

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.