Post Doctoral Associate

Overview

Post Doctoral Associate (A) role at University of Miami. This position is within the Department of Surgery at the Miller School of Medicine. The incumbent conducts scientific research under supervision of managing staff and contributes to the scientific community.

• Conducts research on specific areas of study as assigned.
• Prepares research reports and technical papers for publishing.
• Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories.
• Maintains substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories.
• Develops advanced analytical models and systems and provides solutions and analyses to support strategic and tactical decisions.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

• MD or Ph.D. in relevant field
• No prior experience required

The Postdoctoral Research Associate in Pancreatic Cancer Biology will advance a translational research program within the Department of Surgery at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. The position supports Dr. Nagathihalli’s Lab and focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer, with the goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets and strategies. The program emphasizes collaboration, scientific rigor, innovation, and translational potential.

The candidate will work on integrative projects involving in vivo mouse models, tumor immunobiology, and multi-omic profiling, with emphasis on tumor progression, immune modulation, and therapeutic resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The role includes designing and executing hypothesis-driven experiments using genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), orthotopic/xenograft systems, and advanced molecular and cellular techniques. The successful candidate will integrate multi-omic and immunological approaches, such as single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and tumor microenvironment profiling, and apply bioinformatic tools (e.g., R) to analyze complex datasets.

Additional responsibilities include manuscript and grant preparation, presenting findings at conferences, mentoring junior trainees, and supporting lab organization and collaboration.

The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Cell/Molecular Biology, or related life sciences. Expertise in pancreatic cancer research is preferred.

This position requires 0-2 years of basic laboratory research experience. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated proficiency in working with mouse models (breeding, genotyping, surgical tumor implantation, and conducting functional assays). A strong background in immunology (immune evasion, checkpoint pathways, and T cell biology) is highly desirable. Experience with single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis, basic scripting in R or Python, and integration of multi-omic datasets is advantageous.

A strong publication record and collaborative scientific mindset are preferred.

Not Applicable

The University of Miami offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, tuition remission and more.

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Females/Minorities/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.

Job Status:
Full-time

Employee Type:
Staff

Pay Grade: A9