A postdoctoral position is 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, Department of Defense, 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). For more details, please visit https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/12Yj8P6JatNAj/bibliography/public/.
Dr. Ong is committed to mentoring students and postdoc fellows and fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and supportive laboratory environment. Under his mentorship, students and postdoctoral fellows have received numerous honors, awards, and fellowships, including AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship Awards and NIH K99/R00 awards.
Key responsibilities:
- 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.
Qualifications:
- 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) are 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.
Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and accomplishments. Interested candidates should submit a CV with the names of three referees to Dr. Sang-Ging Ong (sangging@uic.edu). The position is open immediately until filled.
