Ethical, Legal, Social, and Policy Implications Research Associate

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Core Job Summary

The ELSI Research Associate supports interdisciplinary research and programmatic activities focused on the ethical, legal, social, and policy implications (ELSI) of research, innovation, and emerging practices within a biomedical or health-related environment. The role contributes to the design, execution, and dissemination of ELSI-focused research by applying ethical analysis, policy evaluation, and qualitative research methodologies in collaboration with faculty and cross-functional partners.

Core Job Functions

1.    Designs, organizes, and conducts qualitative and/or mixed-methods research examining ethical, legal, social, and policy dimensions relevant to assigned research initiatives.
2.    Conducts systematic, scoping, and background literature reviews related to ELSI issues in research, health care, or innovation contexts.
3.    Performs comparative policy and legal research and analysis relevant to biomedical research, health systems, or emerging technologies.
4.    Prepares research outputs including reports, presentations, and scholarly manuscripts for co-authored publication and dissemination in academic, policy, or stakeholder-facing venues.
5.    Contributes to the development and preparation of grant applications, including drafting research content, literature syntheses, and supporting documentation.
6.    Coordinates regulatory and research compliance activities, including preparation, submission, and maintenance of IRB protocols, amendments, continuing reviews, and communication with oversight offices.
7.    Supports project management activities, including data organization, documentation, timeline tracking, and coordination across interdisciplinary teams.
8.    Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.
 

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes

• 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

A full-time ELSi Research Associate position is available to support research on the ethical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of advances in biomedicine, health policy, and emerging technologies.

The successful candidate will join an interdisciplinary team within the Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy (IBHP) at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. The bioethics and policy research program is led by Rosario Isasi, JD, MPH, Director of the IBHP.

The Institute for Bioethics and Health Policy (IBHP) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine advances ethics and policy scholarship across research, clinical care, and public health. Its interdisciplinary team collaborates nationally and globally to promote ethical reflection and policy innovation through three core pillars - Innovative Research & Scholarship,

Integrated Ethics Service & Consultation and Ethics Education & Leadership Development. https://bioethics.miami.edu

Responsibilities

• Design and conduct empirical research on ethics and policy using qualitative (e.g., interviews, focus groups, content analysis) and/or quantitative (e.g., survey design, data analysis) methods.

• Lead or contribute to social science and ELSI studies, including systematic and scoping reviews, on emerging bioethical, policy, and governance, in areas such as genomics, regenerative medicine, artificial intelligence, health data, and biomedical innovation within research and clinical settings.

• Contribute to ethics education and curriculum development, supporting training initiatives and educational activities aligned with IBHP’s education mission.

• Prepare reports, scholarly manuscripts, and presentations for conferences and peer-reviewed publication.

• Support grant development, including proposal writing and coordination of multi-institutional submissions.

• Manage research protocols, including IRB submissions and ongoing compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.

• Coordinate project activities, stakeholder engagement, and dissemination of research findings.

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

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in social sciences, bioethics, law, philosophy, public health,  political science, science and technology studies, or a related discipline preferred

• At least one year of experience in empirical or policy research related to ethics, law, or the social dimensions of biomedical research or clinical practice preferred.

• Demonstrated competence in social science methodologies, including qualitative and/or quantitative research approaches preferred.

• Excellent writing, analytical, and organizational skills, with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively to meet deadlines preferred.

• Strong oral and written communication skills in English preferred.

Desired Qualifications

• Advanced degree (master’s or doctorate) in bioethics, law, public policy, social sciences, or a related discipline preferred.

• Experience with mixed-methods research, comparative policy analysis, and/or stakeholder engagement preferred.

• Prior experience with grant writing and research project coordination.

• Multilingual proficiency preferred.

• Experience working in interdisciplinary and cross-cultural research environments preferred.

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.

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.

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