Assistant Scientist - Pediatrics

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The University of Miami/UHealth Department of Pediatrics has an exciting opportunity for a full time Assistant Scientist to work in Miami, FL.

The Assistant Scientist, carries out a particular research agenda in support of the University’s research goals and objectives. Moreover, the Assistant Scientist, SOM contributes to the scientific community by publishing research findings and promotes the University’s reputation as a leader in the field.

Core responsibilities

• Contributes to basic and applied research activities and authors scientific publications, technical and agency reports, and patent preparations.
• Collaborates with senior staff to publish findings in refereed journals.
• Creates and conducts experiments and analyzes results.
• Works with other researchers to use and develop end products.
• Writes extramural proposals with approval from appropriate senior staff.
• Provides ready access to all experimental data for managing staff.
• Requests or acquires equipment and supplies for assigned project(s).
• Uses the internet, surveys, legal documents, and other available sources to collect information.
• Applies for grants to continue research and prepares materials for submission to granting agencies and foundations.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

Department specifics functions

An NIH-funded research laboratory (PI: Merline Benny) at the Batchelor Children’s Research Institute is seeking a highly motivated Assistant Scientist to join a multidisciplinary team investigating the molecular mechanisms of vascular and cardiopulmonary disease in preterm-born survivors.

We and others have shown that inflammasome signaling plays a critical role in vascular dysfunction and subsequent cardiovascular remodeling in the lab.

The primary focus of the lab will be to understand how immunological and epigenetic mechanisms affect cardiovascular remodeling, determine if their manipulation ameliorates cardiovascular remodeling and translate our findings to develop novel therapeutics in cardiovascular dysfunction in premature infants.

Cardiovascular & Immunology Research

• Design, conduct, and analyze experiments investigating cardiovascular mechanisms in neonatal research with a focus on endothelial dysfunction, vascular endothelial-smooth muscle cell interactions.
• Develop and utilize animal models (e.g., knock-in mouse, endothelial-specific deletion) and human tissue analyses to study disease mechanisms and validate translational relevance.
• Integrate molecular, cellular, and systems-level approaches to uncover causal pathways and therapeutic targets in cardiovascular diseases.

Experimental Model Development & Data Analysis

• Leads the design, execution and reporting of 2-3 research projects in collaboration with PI. This includes developing hypothesis to be tested and ways of testing them.

Required

• Strong background in molecular biology, immunology, cardiovascular biology or related fields
• Experience with flow cytometry, including immunophenotyping and sorting immunology
• Analyze and interpret complex datasets, ensuring rigorous experimental design and reproducibility.

Preferred

• Experience with epigenetics
• Experience with CRISPR/Cas9 targeting strategies
• Experience with RNA seq transcriptomics, scRNA seq, proteomics, lipidomics and imaging.

Grant Writing, Manuscript Preparation & Scientific Communication

• Draft, edit, and submit scientific research grants and manuscripts for high-impact journals.
• Prepare and present posters and oral presentations at national and international scientific meetings.
• Present findings at international conferences and give invited talks at leading institutions.

Technical Skills & Laboratory Management

• Apply advanced techniques in molecular biology, protein biochemistry, cell culture, RNA isolation, and bioinformatics analysis.
• Manage laboratory operations, including ordering supplies, maintaining equipment, and ensuring compliance with safety and regulatory standards.
• Conduct statistical data analysis and interpretation using Graphpad Prism and other software.

Collaboration, Mentorship & Leadership

• Collaborate with principal investigators, research scientists, and external partners on multi-institutional projects.
• Mentor undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students in experimental design, molecular methodology, and data interpretation.
• Provide hands-on training for medical biotechnology and PhD students, supporting their research projects and professional development.

Translational & Public Health Impact

• Advance early vascular diagnostics and therapeutic innovation for vascular diseases.
• Translate mechanistic discoveries into actionable strategies for cardiovascular diseases in premature infants.

Additional information

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

Core Qualifications

• Doctorate degree - Philosophy (PhD) required
• Minimum 1 year of relevant 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.

Pay and benefits

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

UHealth-University of Miami Health System, South Florida's only university-based health system, provides leading-edge patient care powered by the ground breaking research and medical education at the Miller School of Medicine. As an academic medical center, we are proud to serve South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean. Our physicians represent more than 100 specialties and sub-specialties, and have more than one million patient encounters each year. Our tradition of excellence has earned worldwide recognition for outstanding teaching, research and patient care. We're the challenge you've been looking for.

Job Status: Full time

Employee Type: Staff