Postdoctoral Associate - Neuroscience Institute

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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.

CORE JOB SUMMARY
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
1. Conducts research on specific areas of study as assigned.
2. Prepares research reports and technical papers for publishing.
3. Investigates the feasibility of applying a wide variety of scientific principles and theories.
4. Maintains substantial knowledge of state-of-the-art principles and theories.
5. Develops advanced analytical models and systems and provides solutions and analyses to support strategic and tactical decisions.
6. Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

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
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.

This is a core job profile description and is not reflective of all duties that may be assigned to a specific position in each individual department. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and primary responsibilities of this core job profile. Specific duties and tasks may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for the job.

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 & Scientific Responsibilities

• Design and execute independent research studies involving molecular, cellular, and in vivo models of CNS disorders, including depression, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and ALS‑related mechanisms.
• Utilize rodent behavioral paradigms to assess emotional, cognitive, and motor functions, supporting preclinical evaluation of novel interventions.
• Conduct in‑depth molecular biology and biochemical analyses, including Western blotting, immunoprecipitation, gene expression assays, RNA/protein isolation, and autophagy/oxidative stress assessments.
• Perform neuroimaging and histological techniques such as immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry, Nissl staining, Golgi staining, and use of fluorescent probes to interrogate cellular and subcellular mechanisms.
• Apply advanced subcellular fractionation workflows to isolate mitochondria, ER, MAM, plasma membrane, synaptosomes, and other compartments relevant to mechanistic studies.
• Integrate multi‑modal datasets to investigate molecular pathways including neuroinflammatory cascades, mitochondrial dysfunction, synaptic signaling, stress‑response mechanisms, and proteinopathy‑related pathways.

Data Analysis, Reporting & Scholarly Output

• Analyze experimental outcomes using appropriate quantitative, imaging, and behavioral analysis tools, and prepare publication‑ready data presentations.
• Develop and draft research manuscripts, figures, and technical reports for scientific dissemination and peer‑reviewed publication.
• Support grant‑related work by generating preliminary data, presenting experimental findings, and contributing to scientific rationale statements.
• Engage in academic discussions, journal clubs, and research meetings to contextualize findings within the broader neuroscience field.

Laboratory Operations & Collaborative Contributions

• Maintain laboratory protocols and ensure compliance with research integrity, biosafety, and ethical standards.
• Supervise or assist with training of laboratory personnel, students, or rotating researchers on experimental methods and data analysis.
• Collaborate across research subteams to support multi‑disciplinary projects and integrated scientific objectives.
• Manage experimental timelines, troubleshoot technical challenges, and adapt methodologies to emerging research questions.

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, imaging, histology, animal behavior, and biochemical techniques used in neuroscience research.
• Ability to plan and conduct independent research, interpret experimental results, and communicate findings clearly.
• Commitment to scientific rigor, problem‑solving, and continuous learning.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a dynamic research environment and contribute to team‑based scientific efforts.

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.

The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.

Job Status:

Full time

Employee Type:

Staff