Assistant Scientist - Postdoctoral Associates

Responsibilities

• Independently perform bench work involving protein biochemistry, DNA/RNA sequencing, single cell RNA and ATAC sequencing and spatial transcriptomics and mammalian cell culture/cell-based assays of tumor cell growth and response to therapeutic agents. Conduct mouse surgeries and subsequent animal health monitoring for intracranial tumors models. Evaluate and interpret collected data and prepare reports and analyses setting forth progress, adverse trends, and appropriate recommendations or conclusions. Review scientific literature to follow new developments and to obtain information regarding previous experiments to aid in the design and development of original procedures and techniques. Independently write and submit (with appropriate mentorship) postdoctoral fellowship grants. Communicate scientific results to colleagues, mentors, and the broader scientific community. Work from Dr. Iavarone and Dr. Lasorella labs includes: Lee SB et al. An ID2-dependent-mechanism for VHL inactivation in cancer. Nature, 529:172-177, 2016; [see also RESEARCH WATCH “Hypoxia promotes cancer stem cells via ID2-dependent VHL inactivation” Cancer Discovery (6: 120, 2016). RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS “Pathway to stemness” Nature Reviews Cancer (16: 70, 2016)]. Frattini Vet al. A metabolic function of FGFR3-TACC3 gene fusions in cancer. Nature, 553: 222–227, 2018. [see also RESEARCH WATCH “FGFR3–TACC3 Activates Mitochondrial Respiration via PIN4 Phosphorylation” Cancer Discovery Published Online First January 12, 2018 doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-RW2018-008; RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS “Fusion Power” Nature Reviews Cancer Published online January 25, 2018 doi:10.1038/nrc.2018.2; NATURE.COM/PATHOLOGY “Gene fusions in cancer metabolism” Laboratory Investigation 98:271, 2018]. Ko A et al. LZTR1 mutation mediates oncogenesis through stabilization of EGFR and AXL. Cancer Discovery, 13, 702-723, 2023. Garofano L et al. Pathway-based classification of glioblastoma uncovers a mitochondrial subtype with therapeutic vulnerabilities. Nature Cancer Feb;2(2):141-156; doi: 10.1038/s43018-020-00159-4, 2021. [see also Hubert, C.G. and Lathia J.D. Seeing the GBM diversity spectrum. Nature Cancer, Feb;2(2):135, 2021]. Migliozzi S. et al. Integrative multi-omics networks identify PKCδ and DNA-PK as master kinases of glioblastoma subtypes and guide targeted cancer therapy. Nature Cancer 4, 181–202 (2023). Migliozzi S, Adabbo B, Garofano L, Wu F, Davila P, Komotar RJ, Ivan ME, Shah AH, Currall BB, Williams S, Bilbao Cortes D, Minucci Boone M, de la Fuente MI, Gultekin SH, Ceccarelli M, Iavarone A, Lasorella A. Restraint of cancer cell plasticity by spatial homotypic clustering. Cancer Cell, 43:2206-2223, 2025 [see also PREVIEW “Spatial patterns of glioblastoma” Cancer Cell, 43:2189-2190, 2025]. ****************************************************************************************
• CORE JOB SUMMARY: The Assistant Scientist, SOM 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 JOB FUNCTIONS 1. Contributes to basic and applied research activities and authors scientific publications, technical and agency reports, and patent preparations. 2. Collaborates with senior staff to publish findings in refereed journals. 3. Creates and conducts experiments and analyzes results. 4. Works with other researchers to use and develop end products. 5. Writes extramural proposals with approval from appropriate senior staff. 6. Provides ready access to all experimental data for managing staff. 7. Requests or acquires equipment and supplies for assigned project(s). 8. Uses the internet, surveys, legal documents, and other available sources to collect information. 9. Applies for grants to continue research and prepares materials for submission to granting agencies and foundations. 10. Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets. CORE QUALIFICATIONS Education: Doctorate degree - Philosophy (PhD) required Experience: Minimum 1 year of relevant experience required

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. #LI-YC1 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 The mission of the University of Miami is to transform lives through education, research, innovation, and service. A vibrant and diverse academic and healthcare community, the University of Miami and the University of Miami Health System ("UHealth") have rapidly progressed to become one of the nation’s top research universities and academic medical centers in the nation. The University comprises 12 schools and colleges serving undergraduate and graduate students in more than 350 majors and programs. Visit welcome.miami.edu/about-um to learn more about our points of pride. The University ranks No. 55 on U.S. News & World Report’s 2022 Best Colleges list and ranked No. 49 in the 2022 Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Rankings. Bascom Palmer Eye Institute is ranked the #1 eye hospital in the USA and offers some of the nation's premiere eye doctors to treat every eye condition for adults. Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer, part of the Miller School of Medicine, received the prestigious National Cancer Institute designation in 2019. The University of Miami and UHealth have also ranked among the Forbes Best Employers and Best Employers for Women on several occasions, most recently in 2022. With more than 17,000 faculty and staff, the University strives for excellence, and is driven by a powerful mission to transform and impact the lives of its students, patients, members of the community, and people across the globe. The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law.