Postdoctoral Associate - Human Genetics

University of Miami • Miami, FL

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About The Position

The Postdoctoral Associate performs scientific research and studies under the supervision of managing staff. Moreover, the Postdoctoral Associate promotes institutional recognition through literal contributions to the scientific community. This position offers an exciting opportunity to develop cutting-edge AI-enhanced algorithms for analyzing transposable elements (TEs) in cancer epigenomics, with direct translational applications to precision oncology and immunotherapy. Transposable elements constitute approximately half of mammalian genomes and have emerged as central players in cancer biology, immune regulation, and therapeutic development. Their repetitive nature creates a fundamental computational barrier: sequenced reads cannot be uniquely mapped to specific loci, forcing researchers to discard 5–30% of sequencing data or rely on family-level averages that obscure critical locus-specific regulatory dynamics. This project addresses these challenges through an integrated computational and biological framework that develops advanced multi-read allocation algorithms leveraging artificial intelligence to achieve locus-level resolution at TEs. The therapeutic relevance is direct: our work will enable rational design of TE-targeted epigenetic interventions, refine TE-based biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and inspire new therapeutic strategies exploiting viral mimicry for cancer immunotherapy. The team actively collaborates with the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center experimental laboratories.

Requirements

• Doctorate degree Medicine (MD) required
• No previous experience required
• Learning Agility: Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols, and adapt to changing priorities and work demands
• Teamwork: Ability to work collaboratively with others and contribute to a team environment
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in using office software, technology, and relevant computer applications
• Communication: Strong and clear written and verbal communication skills for interacting with colleagues and stakeholders
• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, or Computer Science with biological applications. Candidates whose doctoral work focused on deep learning methods and who have a strong interest in genomics will also be considered.
• At least one publication in computational genomics or machine learning methods
• Strong programming skills in Python and/or R
• Experience with deep learning frameworks (PyTorch or TensorFlow)
• Snakemake pipeline development with Conda environments and/or containerization
• Strong interest or familiarity with transposable element biology
• Ability to understand Expectation-Maximization algorithms or Bayesian statistical methods

Nice To Haves

• Track record of software tool development and open-source contributions would be a plus

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.
• Lead implementation of multi-read allocation algorithms and AI model development
• Conduct comprehensive benchmarking across diverse datasets, organisms, and genomic contexts
• Develop, document, and release production-quality software packages

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