Cardiovascular Research Center Postdoctoral Fellowship

Cardiovascular Research Center Postdoctoral Fellowship Training in next generation of cardiovascular scientists and physicians at the Medical College of Wisconsin's Cardiovascular Research Center. O. Zhang, MD, PhD.

Supporting postdoctoral training at the Medical College of Wisconsin's Cardiovascular Center (CVC), the A. Smith Fellowship Scholars Program enhances the CVC's mission to train the next generation of cardiovascular scientists and emphasizes critical components designed to launch and sustain research careers including individualized development plans, personalized multidisciplinary mentoring teams, and training in core competencies. This program is supported by the CVC's specific areas of scientific excellence in Atherosclerosis, Thrombosis & Vascular Biology, Cardiac Biology & Heart Failure, Hypertension, and Precision Cardiovascular Medicine, the CVC's highly-integrated collaborative research environment, and access to an extensive research infrastructure. Faculty mentors include:
• Atherosclerosis & Thrombosis: Albert Girotti, PhD; Q. Robert Miao, PhD; Robert Montgomery, MD; Peter Newman, PhD; Kirkwood Pritchard, Jr., PhD; Daisy Sahoo, PhD; Roy Silverstein, MD; Mary Sorci-Thomas, PhD.

• Cardiac Biology & Heart Failure: John Auchampach, PhD; Tom Aufderheide, MD; Xiaowen Bai, PhD; Peter Frommelt, MD; Paul Goldspink, PhD; Scott Levick, PhD; Jennifer Strande, MD, PhD; Dorothee Weihrauch, DVM, PhD.

• Hypertension: Allen Cowley, Jr., PhD; Andrew Greene, PhD; Srividya Kidambi, MD; Alison Kriegel, PhD; Mingyu Liang, MB, PhD; Julian Lombard, PhD; David Mattson, PhD; Andrey Sorokin, PhD; Alexander Staruschenko, PhD.

• Precision Cardiovascular Medicine: Ivor Benjamin, MD; Dudley Woodrow Benson, Jr., MD, PhD; Zeljko Bosnjak, PhD; Ulrich Broeckel, MD; John Corbett, PhD; Michael Flister, PhD; Aron Geurts, PhD; Rebekah Gundry, PhD; Brian Hoffmann, PhD; John Lough, PhD; Michael Mitchell, MD; Aoy Tomita-Mitchell, PhD.

• Vascular Biology: Andreas Beyer, PhD; William Campbell, PhD; Magdalena Chrzanowska-Wodnicka, PhD; Matt Durand, PhD; Hubert Forster, PhD; David Gutterman, MD; David Harder, PhD; John Imig, PhD; Elizabeth Jacobs, MD, MBA; Balaraman Kalyanaraman, PhD; Girija Konduri, MD; Nicole Lohr, MD, PhD; Ramani Ramchandran, PhD; Michael Widlansky, MD, MPH; David X. Applications for this 2 year postdoctoral fellowship (with the possibility of a third year) are ONLY accepted by applying through MCW's Human Resources Office: http://www.mcw.edu/Human-Resources.htm

Applicants should be highly-motivated, ambitious, productive, and have (or anticipate having) a PhD, PharmD, MD, or DO in a relevant research area such as biology, molecular biology, genetics, immunology, biochemistry, pharmacology, or physiology with a strong track record of, and a keen interest in, at least one of the five research areas. Stipends begin at $50,000 (stipends determined by years of experience). To be eligible, applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Clinical scholars will have protected time for research. We are especially eager to recruit women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities.

The Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, in partnership with the Cardiovasc...
03/03/2026

The Linda T. and John A. Mellowes Center for Genomic Sciences and Precision Medicine, in partnership with the Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC), has announced the recipients of its 2025/2026 Genomic Sciences & Precision Cardiovascular Medicine Award, along with this year’s jointly funded pilot research awards supporting innovative cardiovascular science.

The $75,000 Genomic Sciences & Precision Cardiovascular Medicine Award was awarded to a multidisciplinary team led by Aoy Tomita-Mitchell, PhD, professor of surgery (division of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery), and Angela Mathison, PhD, associate professor of surgery. Their project, “Precision Therapeutics for HLHS: Single-Cell Profiling and A*O Rescue of MYH6 E1584K,” aims to advance gene-targeted therapies for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

This award will support studies demonstrating that antisense oligonucleotides (A*Os) can correct the underlying genetic drivers of HLHS, rather than solely managing disease symptoms after onset. If successful, this approach has the potential to reduce complications, shorten hospital stays, and improve long-term outcomes for children with HLHS and their families. Importantly, the strategy may also be adaptable to other genetically driven forms of heart disease, further advancing pediatric cardiology toward precision medicine - delivering the right treatment to the right patient at the right time.

Designed to accelerate innovative, high-impact research, the Genomic Sciences & Precision Cardiovascular Medicine Award prioritizes emerging ‘omics-based methodologies that interrogate the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular disease. The funding mechanism aims to catalyze future extramural grant submissions, publications, or both, while fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration and technological innovation.

In addition to the major award, the Mellowes Center and CVRC also funded pilot research projects totaling up to $40,000, supporting early-stage, high-risk ideas with strong potential for scientific and translational impact. 2025 Mellowes Center CVRC Pilot Award recipients include:

Brian Lin, PhD, assistant professor of cell biology, neurobiology, and anatomy, for his project “Mechanisms by Which TRPC6 Inhibitors Rescue Heart Failure Using Human Stem Cell Models of DMD.”

Brian Smith, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry, for his project “BET Proteins Influence Macrophages During Inflammation.”

These competitive pilot awards share the same overarching goal as the Genomic Sciences & Precision Cardiovascular Medicine Award: to generate impactful preliminary data that advances cardiovascular discovery, strengthens future funding applications, and promotes collaboration across disciplines and institutions.

Today is National Wear Red Day! Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women and takes a woman's life approximate...
02/06/2026

Today is National Wear Red Day! Cardiovascular disease is the No. 1 killer of women and takes a woman's life approximately every 80 seconds. Our CVRC staff is bringing awareness, supporting the mission of research and discovery by Going Red today!

01/12/2026

Congratulations to Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) T32 postdoctoral fellow Stephen Hammond, PhD, MS, on being awarded a prestigious American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Andreas Beyer, Dr. Hammond received an American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship for his project, “Unraveling the Role of Tumor-Derived Circulating Factors in the Manifestation of Cancer Treatment–Induced Cardiotoxicity.” This research examines how debris released from damaged cancer cells during treatment may contribute to microvascular and cardiac dysfunction.

Cancer survivors face a higher risk of dying from heart disease, in part because some cancer therapies harm healthy heart and blood vessel cells. While prior research has largely focused on direct damage to the heart, much less is known about injury to blood vessels—often the earliest indicator of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Hammond’s project addresses this critical gap by investigating how cancer treatments, together with signals released from dying cancer cells, disrupt blood vessel health.

The AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship supports highly promising early-career scientists as they pursue innovative cardiovascular research and advance toward independent research careers. This highly competitive award recognizes both the scientific merit of the proposed research and the fellows’ potential to become future leaders in cardiovascular science.

Dr. Hammond will transition from the CVRC T32 training program to accept his AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship award.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Hammond on this outstanding accomplishment.

01/12/2026

Congratulations to Cardiovascular Research Center (CVRC) T32 postdoctoral fellow Natalia Marin Mathieu, PhD, on being awarded a prestigious American Heart Association (AHA) Postdoctoral Fellowships.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Justin Grobe, Dr. Mathieu received the AHA fellowship for her project, “Cardiometabolic Dysfunction in an Ovarian Failure Model of Menopause: Role of Angiotensin AT1R in AgRP Neurons.” This research, conducted in the laboratories of Drs. Justin Grobe and Gary Mouradian, will examine how estrogen influences AT1R signaling in AgRP neurons and how distinct AT1R signaling pathways affect resting metabolic rate during a menopause-like state. This work will advance understanding of the neural regulation of resting metabolism and the mechanisms contributing to increased cardiometabolic risk associated with menopause.

The AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship supports highly promising early-career scientists as they pursue innovative cardiovascular research and advance toward independent research careers. This highly competitive award recognizes both the scientific merit of the proposed research and the fellows’ potential to become future leaders in cardiovascular science.

Dr. Mathieu will transition from the CVRC T32 training program to accept her AHA Postdoctoral Fellowship award.

Please join us in congratulating Dr. Mathieu on this outstanding accomplishment.

12/25/2025
Congratulations to MSTP student Guadalupe Valdivia Esparza!We’re excited to celebrate Guadalupe on receiving an American...
12/19/2025

Congratulations to MSTP student Guadalupe Valdivia Esparza!

We’re excited to celebrate Guadalupe on receiving an American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship! This well-deserved recognition highlights her outstanding work and dedication to cardiovascular research in the lab of Dr. Daisy Sahoo.

On Nov. 17, the CVRC hosted its annual Research Retreat in the Alumni Center, bringing together investigators, trainees,...
11/25/2025

On Nov. 17, the CVRC hosted its annual Research Retreat in the Alumni Center, bringing together investigators, trainees, and staff from across MCW for a day focused on sharing research and connecting with colleagues. Led by Faculty Co-Chairs Dr. Andrew Spearman and Dr. William Hughes, Trainee Chair Dr. Natalia Marin Mathieu, and Staff Chair Christina Gara, the event included presentations, poster sessions, and time for networking.

This year’s keynote speaker, Brian Colwell Jensen, MD, Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, presented “Alpha-1A Adrenergic Receptors: Emerging Mechanisms of Cardioprotection,” providing attendees with an overview of current questions and approaches in the field.

The retreat included two poster sessions featuring basic, translational, and clinical cardiovascular research from across the institution. Attendees also participated in presentations throughout the day highlighting ongoing projects, center resources, and developing ideas.

Poster awards were presented in three categories—Postdoctoral Fellows, Graduate Students, and Research Staff—with the following recipients:

Postdoctoral Fellows:
• 1st Place: Adam Knier, PhD (Olivier-Van Stichelen Lab)
• 2nd Place: Natalia Marin Mathieu, PhD (Grobe Lab)
• 3rd Place: Siqi Li, PhD (Lu Han Lab)
Graduate Students:
• 1st Place: Rachel Limpert (Freed Lab)
• 2nd Place: Coneria Nansubuga (Chun Liu Lab)
• 3rd Place: Emma Tillison (Sahoo Lab)
Research Staff:
• 1st Place: Thiago Milech De Assuncao, PhD (Brian Lin Lab)
• 2nd Place: Theresa Bluemn (Lincoln Lab)
• 3rd Place: Prottoy Hasan (Patterson Lab)

The CVRC extends its appreciation to the judges for generously contributing their time and effort in reviewing the posters. This year’s retreat provided a valuable opportunity to learn about ongoing cardiovascular research at MCW and strengthen connections across the center.

The Cardiovascular Research Center’s T32 Training Program is led by three Program Directors: Mary Sorci-Thomas, PhD; Jac...
10/20/2025

The Cardiovascular Research Center’s T32 Training Program is led by three Program Directors: Mary Sorci-Thomas, PhD; Jacquelyn Kulinski, MD; Justin Grobe, PhD.

Dr. Sorci-Thomas is a professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, metabolism and clinical nutrition and an associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at MCW. She is the Associate Director of Education & Training in the CVRC and she also holds a senior adjunct investigator at the Versiti Blood Research Institute.

Dr. Kulinski is a Professor of Medicine in the division of Cardiology and a cardiologist at the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Heart and Vascular Center.

Dr. Grobe is a Professor of Physiology & Biomedical Engineering. He is the Butenhoff Family Professor of Cardiovascular Research and is the Director of the Comprehensive Rodent Metabolic Phenotyping Core.

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The Medical College of Wisconsin’s Cardiovascular Center, a nationally recognized leader in research, has been awarded a five-year $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, to support a new institutional T32 Postdoctoral Training Program. The grants will support post-doctoral trainees with an MD, PhD, PharmD, or DO degree, for up to three years of training designed to launch sustainable research careers.

The goal of the project, “Training in Signature Transdisciplinary Cardiovascular Sciences,” is to prepare the next generation of cardiovascular scientists, including underrepresented minorities, for success by incorporating broad-based, personalized, supportive, and rigorous training opportunities. Training components of the program include individual development plans, personalized multidisciplinary mentoring teams, training in core competencies and industry/biotechnology or scientific liaison career options for trainees not pursuing careers in academia. Forty-six basic scientists and translational investigators serve as mentors in the program spanning broad areas of interest within cardiovascular sciences aligned with our Signature Programs in atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology; cardiac function and heart failure, precision medicine, and hypertension.

Ivor Benjamin, MD, professor of medicine and Director of the Cardiovascular Center at MCW and David Gutterman, MD, Northwestern Mutual Professor of Cardiology and Senior Associate Director of the Cardiovascular Center at MCW, are co-principal investigators of the research project, Mary Sorci-Thomas, PhD, professor of medicine, is associate director of the training program. Allison DeVan, PhD is the academic program and research consultant and Erin Theriault, MS is the research program coordinator of the grant.

Complementary support for trainees in cardiovascular sciences at MCW is provided by a grant from the A. O. Smith Foundation for the Cardiovascular Center’s A. O. Smith Fellowship Scholars Program, which is designed to support talented cardiovascular researchers and physicians overcome the barriers that exist to launching and sustaining a successful research career.