Post Doctoral Associate (A)

University of Miami • Miami, FL

36d

About The Position

The Surgery department has an exciting opportunity for a Post Doctoral Associate position. The incumbent performs scientific research and studies under the supervision of managing staff. Moreover, the Post Doctoral Associate promotes institutional recognition through literal contributions to the scientific community. The Postdoctoral Research Associate in Pancreatic Cancer Biology will play a central role in advancing a high-impact translational research program within the Department of Surgery at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. The position to join Dr. Nagathihalli’s Lab offers a unique opportunity to contribute to a high-impact translational research program focused on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying pancreatic cancer, with the overarching goal of identifying novel therapeutic targets and strategies. The research program is embedded within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment that emphasizes scientific rigor, innovation, and translational potential. The successful candidate will work on integrative projects involving in vivo mouse models, tumor immunobiology, and multi-omic profiling, with particular attention to mechanisms of tumor progression, immune modulation, and therapeutic resistance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The role involves designing and executing hypothesis-driven experiments using genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs), orthotopic/xenograft systems, and advanced molecular and cellular techniques to explore tumor progression, immune modulation, and treatment resistance. 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 contributing to manuscript and grant preparation, presenting findings at scientific conferences, mentoring junior trainees, and supporting lab organization and collaborative efforts within a rigorous and innovation-driven environment.

Requirements

• MD or Ph.D. in relevant field
• No prior experience required
• The ideal candidate will have a Ph.D. in Cancer Biology, Immunology, Biochemistry, Cell/Molecular Biology, or related life sciences.
• This position requires 0-2 years of basic laboratory research experience.
• The ideal candidate will have demonstrated proficiency in working with mouse models, including breeding, genotyping, surgical tumor implantation, and conducting functional assays.
• A strong background in immunology is highly desirable, particularly in areas such as immune evasion, checkpoint pathways, and T cell biology.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in pancreatic cancer research is preferred.
• Experience with single-cell RNA sequencing data analysis, basic scripting in R or Python, and integration of multi-omic datasets is considered an advantage.
• Candidates should also possess a strong publication record in high-impact journals and a collaborative scientific mindset.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Contributing to manuscript and grant preparation
• Presenting findings at scientific conferences
• Mentoring junior trainees
• Supporting lab organization and collaborative efforts within a rigorous and innovation-driven environment.

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 11-50 employees