Doctoral Research Faculty

Overview

Children's Mercy Kansas City is seeking an outstanding Doctoral Research Faculty member to join the Ward Family Heart Center Research Program and be a pivotal member of the Pre-Clinical Research Track within a growing and nationally recognized cardiovascular research enterprise.

The successful candidate will be responsible for maintaining an innovative and externally funded research program focused on pediatric cardiovascular disease. As member of the Pre-Clinical Research Track, the candidate will develop and lead translational research initiatives that bridge basic science and clinical application. Research efforts will leverage the extensive resources of the Ward Family Heart Center Biorepository and the Children's Mercy Research Institute (CMRI) to advance understanding of the genomic and molecular basis of congenital and acquired pediatric heart disease.

Key areas of investigation may include but not limited to genomic and epigenomic underpinnings of congenital heart disease; patient-derived cellular and organoid models; precision medicine approaches; novel therapeutic development and testing; and large-scale genomic analyses conducted in collaboration with CMRI's Genomic Medicine Center. The successful candidate will have opportunities to investigate diverse patient populations, including but not limited to:

• Single-ventricle congenital heart disease
• Cyanotic congenital heart disease
• Fetal cardiovascular disease
• Post-chemotherapy cardiomyopathy
• Inherited arrhythmia syndromes
• Genetic cardiomyopathies
• Acquired pediatric heart disease

We welcome applications from exceptional early-career and mid-career investigators with a doctoral degree (MD/PhD, PhD, PharmD, ScD, or equivalent). Apart from a track-record in cardiovascular research, competitive candidates will demonstrate expertise in one or more of the following areas:

• Computational biology and bioinformatics
• Data science and artificial intelligence applications
• Human genetics and genomics
• Molecular and cellular biology
• Precision medicine and translational therapeutics
• Disease modeling using cellular and animal systems
• Medical genetics and genomic medicine

The ideal candidate will share our commitment to building a premier translational cardiovascular research program that integrates scientific discovery with excellence in pediatric patient care.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, Sub-Investigator, or scientific consultant on investigator-initiated grants and publications, collaborative research proposals, and sponsored research agreements.
• Develop and implement innovative, state-of-the-art methodologies in cardiovascular disease modeling and therapeutic discovery.
• Lead translational research efforts utilizing advanced genetic, genomic, and molecular approaches.
• Establish and maintain a successful externally funded research program.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaborations across the Heart Center, CMRI, and the Genomic Medicine Center.
• Train and mentor undergraduate students, graduate trainees, postdoctoral fellows, pediatric cardiology fellows, and early-career faculty members.
• Contribute to the academic mission of Children's Mercy through scientific publications, presentations, and program development.

About the Ward Family Heart Center Research Program

The Ward Family Heart Center Research Program has been active for more than a decade and is entering an exciting period of expansion. In 2025, Dr. Jon Wagner, an independently funded physician-scientist specializing in precision medicine and optimization of cardiovascular therapeutics, was recruited to develop a world-class translational cardiovascular research program. Building on the strengths of the Children's Mercy Research Institute (CMRI), this initiative aims to accelerate scientific discovery while fostering innovative collaborations across disciplines.

The program is organized into three complementary research tracks that collectively support the development of a nationally recognized pediatric cardiovascular research center:

1. Exploratory and Pre-Clinical Research
2. Clinical and Diagnostic Trials
3. Cardiovascular Outcomes Research

The Clinical and Diagnostic Trials Track is led by David White, PhD, an NIH-funded investigator whose research focuses on the impact of physical activity interventions in patients with repaired congenital heart disease.

The Cardiovascular Outcomes Research Track is led by Natalie Jayaram, MD, an NIH-funded investigator whose work examines the impact of interventions, processes of care, and public policies on outcomes in congenital heart disease patients.

The Children's Mercy Heart Center serves a population of over 5 million in the heart of the U.S.A. We perform over 500 cardiac operations, 600 cardiac catheterizations including over 200 invasive EP procedures, 18,000 outpatient visits, and more than 20,000 echocardiograms annually. Our two state-of the art catheterization labs are both hybrid labs and equipped with the latest 3D imaging and EP technology. Telehealth is available and facilitates our outreach clinics. We have video-conferencing capabilities that are routinely used by providers from distant locations to dial into our conferences for patient care and education.

Our Kansas City-based super-specialty resources include Electrophysiology (which includes Clinical EP, pacing and Genetic Arrhythmia), Cardiac Transplantation/Heart Failure, Interventional Cardiology and Advanced Cardiac Imaging (fetal echo, 3D echo, trans-esophageal echo, CT, MRI and 3D printing). We also provide specialized, team-based care in Fetal Cardiology (with on-site delivery services for high-risk neonates in Kansas City), Interstage Monitoring (CHAMP), Preventive Cardiology, Cardiac Genetics, Cardio-oncology, Single Ventricle Survivorship, Pulmonary Hypertension, a dedicated POTS clinic and Cardiac Neurodevelopmental services.

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of pediatric cardiovascular research within a collaborative environment that combines outstanding clinical programs, robust research infrastructure, extensive biorepository resources, and a strong institutional commitment to innovation, discovery, and mentorship.