Under the direction of the Principal Investigator, the Research Technician supports an Additional-Venture funded project, multidisciplinary research program investigating pulmonary artery (PA) hemodynamics and endothelial dysfunction in pediatric Fontan patients. The position performs human iPSC-derived endothelial cell (EC) culture and mass spectrometry-based lipidomic and glycomic analyses to identify the hemodynamic and molecular drivers of Fontan failure. The Research Technician works closely with clinical, engineering, and analytical co-investigators to ensure rigorous and reproducible execution of the study's aims, and helps maintain laboratory operations, data management, and regulatory compliance (IRB, biosafety).

Required Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical/Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry, or a related life-sciences/engineering field

• Experience:

  • At least 1 year of laboratory research experience in a biomedical, bioengineering, or life-sciences setting, including hands-on experience with basic wet-lab techniques (e.g., cell culture, sample preparation, or analytical instrumentation).

  • Relevant undergraduate research or internship experience may substitute for professional experience.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of basic cardiovascular physiology and fluid dynamics principles relevant to Fontan circulation.

  • Skill in aseptic cell culture technique, including handling and maintaining human iPSC-derived endothelial cells.

  • Skill in operating and troubleshooting analytical instrumentation such as LCMS and MALDI mass spectrometers.

  • Ability to perform precise laboratory techniques including pipetting, tissue/cell sectioning, and immunolabeling.

  • Ability to analyze and interpret quantitative data using statistical software (e.g., MATLAB, JMP).

  • Ability to maintain accurate, detailed laboratory records and comply with IRB, biosafety, and data-security protocols.

  • Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education: Master’s degree in Biomedical/Bioengineering, Biology, Chemistry, or a related life-sciences/engineering field

• Experience: Experience with mass spectrometry-based analytical techniques (LCMS/MALDI), human iPSC-derived cell culture, or cardiovascular/vascular biology research.

• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Knowledge of vascular biology, endothelial cell signaling, and glycocalyx function.

  • Skill in 3D printing and silicone molding/casting fabrication techniques.

  • Skill in image analysis software (e.g., ImageJ/OrientationJ) for cell alignment and morphology quantification.

  • Ability to program in MATLAB or Python for data processing, statistical analysis, and visualization.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite

Compensation and Assignment

• Anticipated hiring range: $20-$25/hour

• Length of assignment: up to 6 months

• Hours: 28 hours per week

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.

• Resume

• Set-up new lab space in Zeanah 415. Order necessary supplies and reagents. Replicate cell culture experiments from previous work in new lab space.

• Mock circulatory flow loop and cell culture experiments (Aim 2.1):

  • Fabricate silicone Fontan total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) models via 3D printing and casting;

  • construct, operate, and troubleshoot the Arduino-controlled mock circulatory flow loop (MCFL) to reproduce patient-specific pulsatile flow conditions;

  • functionalize silicone models and seed them with single-ventricle patient iPSC-derived endothelial cells; maintain sterile, long-term perfusion cell culture and collect media/cell samples at defined time points under control and Fontan hemodynamic conditions.

• Biomolecular and mass spectrometry analyses (Aims 2.1-2.3):

  • Prepare EC and blood samples for liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) and MALDI mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), including gelatin embedding, cryosectioning, and matrix application for lipid and N-glycan imaging;

  • perform Griess assay, ELISA, and Bio-Plex cytokine panel assays to quantify nitric oxide metabolites, endothelial dysfunction biomarkers, and inflammatory cytokines in culture media and patient blood samples.

• Data management, analysis, and regulatory compliance:

  • Enter patient demographic and clinical data into REDCap under approved IRB protocols;

  • handle and process human blood/tissue samples in accordance with IRB and biosafety requirements;

  • perform statistical analyses (ANOVA, t-tests, PCA, mixed-effects models) using MATLAB and JMP;

  • maintain accurate laboratory notebooks, SOPs, and datasets in support of publications and progress reports.

• Laboratory operations and collaboration:

  • Maintain and calibrate laboratory equipment (mass spectrometers, flow loop pumps/sensors, incubators, microscopes);

  • order and manage laboratory supplies and reagents; coordinate sample and data transfer with collaborating clinical sites (Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Nationwide Children's Hospital);

  • assist with training of students and junior lab personnel.