The CNIC has been conceived to develop research of excellence, competitive and of international relevance in relation to cardiovascular diseases. The CNIC has a research center of 24,000 m2, located in Madrid, with more than 6,000 m2 for laboratories equipped with a state-of-the-art infrastructure and equipment.

A permanent position is called for a “Investigador Colaborador" (Assistant Researcher ) within the Molecular Cardiology laboratory led by Prof. Silvia G. Priori, world leader in the research about sudden cardiac death due to inherited arrhythmias. At present time, research of the team is focused on two severe inherited arrhythmogenic diseases: catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and Long QT syndrome type 8 (LQT8). The group studies the calcium-dependent mechanisms involved in the abnormal electrical properties of the diseased heart. The group uses knock-in mouse and pig lines that recapitulate disease phenotypes similar to those observed in humans. Tissue samples from patients and controls are also used, to obtain human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. State of the art calcium imaging by means of confocal microscopy are used in combination with patch-clamp techniques.

Functions: Given the focus of the laboratory in the study of animal models of cardiac inherited diseases (mice, guinea pigs, pigs) the job will include isolation of cardiac myocytes from the whole heart for electrophysiology studies, for microscopy evaluation and for protein extraction. The selected candidate will perform advanced electrophysiological techniques including recording of specific cardiac ionic currents and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content by means of whole-cell voltage-clamp. Calcium imaging will be acquired by means of confocal microscopy and will include linescan recording of calcium transients, waves, sparks and caffeine-induced calcium releases. Simultaneous acquisition of electrophysiological and calcium imaging data will be conducted. Acquisition of super resolution microscopy images will be also part of candidate´s responsibilities. Candidate will also be responsible of doing advanced analysis that will involve the use of specialized software for electrophysiology, calcium imaging and structural biology/super-resolution microscopy.

Mandatory requirements: 

• PhD degree in life sciences.
• Demonstrable postdoctoral experience of at least 5 years in laboratories specialized in electrophysiology applied to cardiology field.

• Strong expertise in electrophysiological techniques applied to isolated cardiomyocytes. Selective recording of specific cardiac ionic currents and sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content by means of whole-cell voltage-clamp; and whole-cell current-clamp experiments including the collection of action potentials, early and late afterdepolarizations, must all be accredited by the candidate to be considered experienced in electrophysiology (it will be valued according to the number of years or fraction).
• Strong experience in calcium imaging by means of confocal microscopy. Linescan recording of calcium transients, waves, sparks and caffeine-induced calcium releases must all be accredited by the candidate (it will be valued according to the number of years or fraction).
• Strong experience in the simultaneous acquisition of electrophysiological and calcium imaging data by the techniques outlined in C2 and C3 (it will be valued according to the number of years or fraction).
• Experience on super-resolution microscopy techniques (it will be valued according to the number of years or fraction and number of techniques).
• Experience in organelle-targeted calcium imaging (it will be valued according to the number of years or fraction).
• Advanced analytical skills. Programming and/or use of advanced analysis software for electrophysiology, calcium imaging and structural biology/super-resolution must be accredited (it will be valued according to the number of years or fraction and number of techniques).
• Interview.