Postdoctoral Associate

University of Miami • Miami, FL

5d

About The Position

The Peggy and Harold Katz Family Drug Discovery Center at the University of Miami seeks a Postdoctoral Associate in cardiovascular and cardiometabolic epidemiology. The associate will work with Dr. Tali Elfassy and multidisciplinary collaborators on federally and foundation-funded research, using data primarily from large, well-characterized epidemiologic cohorts and national health surveys. Research topics include cardiovascular and cardiometabolic risk, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, risk prediction, health disparities, and related cognitive outcomes.

This role provides advanced training toward an independent research career in epidemiology, population health, or a related field. The associate will have opportunities to lead analyses and first-author manuscripts, contribute to grant development, present at scientific meetings, and develop independent research questions. The position involves conducting scientific research under supervision, preparing research reports and technical papers, applying scientific principles, developing analytical models, and supporting strategic and tactical decisions. Duties may expand according to departmental needs.

Requirements

• Doctoral degree (Ph.D., Sc.D., Dr.P.H., or equivalent) in Epidemiology, Biostatistics, Public Health, Population Health, or a closely related quantitative field.
• Strong training in epidemiologic methods and statistical analysis of observational data.
• Demonstrated experience managing and analyzing large epidemiologic datasets.
• Proficiency in SAS or comparable statistical programming software and ability and willingness to work extensively in SAS.
• Experience with multivariable regression and longitudinal and/or time-to-event methods.
• Experience with causal inference.
• Evidence of strong scientific writing ability, including experience preparing peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Ability to independently develop and execute analyses while working effectively in multidisciplinary collaborative teams.
• Excellent organizational, written and verbal communication, and project-management skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to reproducible, rigorous research.
• Ability to learn new procedures, technologies, and protocols and adapt to changing priorities and work demands.
• Ability to work collaboratively and contribute to a team environment.
• Technical proficiency with office software, technology, and relevant computer applications.
• No previous experience is required in the core job qualifications.

Nice To Haves

• Research experience in cardiovascular disease, cardiometabolic disease, hypertension, diabetes, cognitive aging or dementia, or health disparities.
• Experience working with large prospective cohort studies or nationally representative survey data.
• Experience accounting for complex sampling designs and survey weights; SUDAAN experience is desirable but not required.
• Experience with cardiovascular risk prediction, survival analysis, repeated-measures or longitudinal analyses, or related advanced epidemiologic methods.
• Record of first-author peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience contributing to NIH or other extramural grant applications.
• Interest in developing an independent research program and pursuing career-development or independent research funding.
• Ability to effectively visualize data and present findings to diverse audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and collaborate on epidemiologic research projects from research-question development and analytic planning through analysis, interpretation, manuscript preparation, and publication.
• Manage and analyze large, complex longitudinal cohort and survey datasets, including data management, variable development, quality control, statistical modeling, and interpretation.
• Apply appropriate epidemiologic and statistical methods, including longitudinal and time-to-event analyses, complex survey methods, risk prediction, and other observational study methods.
• Lead first-author manuscripts and contribute substantively to collaborative manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication.
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesize evidence to inform hypotheses, analytic approaches, and interpretation of findings.
• Contribute to NIH and other grant applications through scientific writing, preliminary analyses, analytic plans, and preparation of tables and figures.
• Develop tables, figures, and data visualizations, and present findings to collaborators, study committees, and at national scientific meetings.
• Collaborate with investigators, statisticians, clinicians, trainees, and external collaborators on multidisciplinary research teams.
• Assist with mentoring students and trainees involved in research projects.
• Document analytic decisions, code, derived variables, and research workflows, while adhering to reproducible research and research-integrity principles.
• Take increasing ownership of research projects, troubleshoot analytic challenges, and advance projects from research question through analysis and manuscript preparation.
• Develop an independent research line with mentorship and pursue career-development and independent research funding opportunities.
• Conduct assigned research, prepare research reports and technical papers, investigate the feasibility of scientific principles and theories, maintain knowledge of current principles and theories, and develop analytical models and systems.
• Follow University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguard University assets.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Medical benefits
• Dental benefits
• Tuition remission

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree