Postdoctoral Associate; Neuroscience Institute

Postdoctoral Associate

The University of Miami/UHealth Office of the Dean has an exciting opportunity for a full time Postdoctoral Associate to work at the UHealth campus in Miami, Fl.

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.

Core

Job Functions:

• Conducts research on specific areas of study as assigned.
• Prepares research reports and technical papers for publishing.
• Investigate 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.

Core

Qualifications:

• Education:
  
  Doctorate degree Medicine (MD) required
• Experience:
  
  No previous experience required
• Certification and Licensing:
  Refer to department description for applicable certification requirements
• Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
• 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.

Department Specific Functions:

The Postdoctoral Associate will contribute to advanced neuroscience research projects focused on disease mechanisms, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative pathways, and translational therapeutic development. The position requires independent scientific inquiry, mastery of molecular and behavioral neuroscience techniques, and the ability to collaborate within a multidisciplinary research team.

Experimental Research & Scientific Contribution:

• Design, plan, and execute experiments related to neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, including studies involving abnormal protein aggregation, tauopathies, synaptic dysfunction, and cellular stress pathways.
• Conduct in vivo and in vitro neuroscience experiments such as primary neuron culture, stereotaxic injections, brain tissue preparation, neuronal activity recording, and behavioral assessments relevant to disease models.
• Perform molecular biology, cell biology, and biochemical assays including gene cloning, plasmid construction, PCR/qPCR, Western Blot, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, RNA/protein extraction, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and related methods.
• Support translational research projects evaluating therapeutic candidates, molecular interventions, and mechanistic pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases.

Data Analysis, Interpretation & Scientific Communication:

• Analyze experimental data using appropriate quantitative and imaging tools; prepare figures, summaries, and written documentation for reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Contribute to the writing of research manuscripts and scientific abstracts; assist with presenting findings in internal meetings and at scientific conferences.
• Maintain awareness of current literature in neurobiology, neurodegeneration, and molecular disease research to support study design and interpretation.

Laboratory Operations & Collaborative Responsibilities:

• Assist with daily laboratory operations including preparation of reagents, maintenance of equipment, inventory tracking, and adherence to biosafety protocols.
• Collaborate with laboratory teammates to support complex projects, including multi-step workflows and integrated biochemical, molecular, and imaging studies.
• Maintain accurate, organized experimental records and ensure compliance with research policies, animal care guidelines (when applicable), and institutional regulatory standards.

Department Specific

Qualifications:

Education:

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Neuropharmacology, Physiology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related biomedical field, with rigorous training in CNS disease models and mechanistic research.

Certification & Licensing:

• None required.

Experience:

• Prior experience conducting research in areas such as neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, behavioral neuroscience, or molecular neuroscience.
• Demonstrated proficiency with rodent models, behavioral testing, molecular assays, imaging, and cell-based experimental systems aligned with laboratory research priorities.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity through publications or presented research.
• Experience designing and optimizing experimental workflows involving complex signaling pathways and multi-level data integration.

Knowledge, Skills & Attitudes:

• Strong foundational and applied knowledge of CNS disease mechanisms and neurobiological pathways.
• Proficiency in molecular biology,…