What are the responsibilities and job description for the Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Center for Advanced Cardiopulmonary Therapies and Transplantation (ACTAT) position at UTHealth Houston Careers?
This project aims to develop and validate a cardiac monitoring algorithm that uses commercially available smartwatches to detect and predict cardiac arrest in real time. Unlike existing consumer wearable technology, which primarily tracks single biomarkers such as heart rate, our approach will integrate multi-parameter physiological data, including heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, blood pressure, respiration patterns, and signs of consciousness loss. By analyzing these signals together, the system will identify high-risk conditions and issue an early warning before cardiac arrest occurs.
To achieve this, we will collect data from 300 patients, integrating smartwatch-derived physiological signals with hospital monitoring systems and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), which serve as the gold standard for cardiac event detection. The data will undergo statistical and machine learning-based validation using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCN) to improve the accuracy of smartwatch-based monitoring. Our goal is to develop an algorithm that can differentiate between normal physiological variations and early indicators of cardiac arrest, enhancing the reliability of consumer wearable devices for medical use.
What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.
Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:
- 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees
- Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)
- The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!
- Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)
- Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!
We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...
- Free financial and legal counseling
- Free mental health counseling services
- Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs
- Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.
- Resources for child and elder care
- Plus many more!
Position Summary:
A biomedical postdoc position provides an opportunity for early-career researchers to gain valuable experience, develop independent research skills, and contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge in their field of expertise.
Position Key Accountabilities:
1. Plans and conducts experiments, analyzes data, and prepares publications describing results.
2. Assists in training and mentoring of lab personnel, including graduate students and other trainees.
3. Reads and evaluates literature.
4. Possess interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate and communicate with individuals at all levels.
5. Have strong written and oral communication skills.
6. Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Education:
Doctoral/Terminal Degree
Physical Requirements:
Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.
Security Sensitive:
This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215
Residency Requirement:
Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.
