Research Assistant Professor

RES AST PROF

Assistant Professor

Teaches undergraduate and graduate courses.  Develops and organizes course curriculum and instructional materials.  Conducts research in the field of expertise.  Serves as an academic advisor to students.  Provides service to the department, school, or public through such activities as committee involvement and volunteer work.

The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences within the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, non-tenure accruing faculty position at the rank of Research Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will develop and maintain an externally funded, collaborative research program focused on comparative and translational oncology, leveraging naturally occurring cancers in companion animals to advance veterinary and human health.

This position is intended for an innovative and highly motivated scientist with expertise in bioinformatics, comparative oncology, and translational cancer research. The faculty member will collaborate with clinical and basic science investigators across the College of Veterinary Medicine, the UF Health Cancer Center, and external research partners to conduct impactful research and support the University's mission of discovery, education, and service.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will:

Research Program Development

• Develop, establish, and sustain an independent and collaborative research program in comparative and translational oncology.
• Lead innovative research initiatives in one or more of the following areas:
• • Cancer immunoprevention
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Biomarker discovery and validation
  • Precision oncology
  • Point-of-care diagnostic technologies
  • Multi-omics and bioinformatics applications in cancer research
• Utilize advanced computational and bioinformatics approaches to analyze genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and other large-scale biological datasets.
• Publish research findings in high-impact, peer-reviewed scientific journals.

Grant Development and Extramural Funding

• Pursue and secure extramural funding from federal agencies, foundations, industry, and other funding organizations.
• Lead and participate in the preparation of competitive grant proposals, including NIH, NCI, USDA, DoD, private foundations, and industry-sponsored research initiatives.
• Maintain a funded research portfolio that supports the growth and sustainability of the research program.

Collaborative and Translational Research

• Collaborate with veterinary clinicians, physician-scientists, and basic researchers to facilitate translational investigations that benefit both animal and human patients.
• Participate in multidisciplinary research teams focused on comparative oncology and precision medicine.
• Foster strategic collaborations within the University of Florida and with national and international research partners.

Laboratory Leadership and Mentorship

• Direct laboratory operations, including regulatory compliance, budgeting, personnel management, and research workflow oversight.
• Supervise and mentor postdoctoral associates, graduate students, undergraduate researchers, research technicians, and other laboratory personnel.
• Promote a collaborative, inclusive, and productive research environment.

Service and Scholarly Activities

• Participate in departmental, college, and university research initiatives and service activities.
• Contribute to scientific review panels, professional organizations, and scholarly meetings.
• Present research findings at regional, national, and international conferences.

About the Department

The Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences is a nationally recognized leader in veterinary clinical care, education, and research. The department supports a broad range of collaborative research programs and works closely with the University of Florida Health Cancer Center, providing exceptional opportunities for translational and comparative oncology research. The College of Veterinary Medicine is committed to fostering an environment of excellence, innovation, and collaboration.

Salary will be commensurate with the applicant’s qualifications and experience.

Applicants must possess:

• PhD in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Cancer Biology, Molecular Biology, Immunology, Comparative Oncology, or a closely related discipline.
• Evidence of concentration and expertise in Bioinformatics and Comparative Oncology.
• Completed postdoctoral training with demonstrated experience in translational cancer research, comparative oncology, or related biomedical research fields.
• Record of scholarly productivity demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications.
• Experience developing and contributing to competitive grant applications and external funding opportunities.
• Demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following:
• • Immunoprevention
  • Cancer immunotherapy
  • Biomarker development
  • Point-of-care diagnostics
• Experience managing research personnel, laboratory operations, and collaborative research projects.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Preference will be given to candidates with:

• Demonstrated success in securing extramural funding as principal investigator, co-investigator, or key personnel.
• Experience applying bioinformatics and artificial intelligence/machine learning approaches to cancer research.
• Expertise in genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, or single-cell data analysis.
• Experience conducting comparative oncology studies involving companion animals with naturally occurring cancers.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary academic medical or veterinary medical environments.
• Evidence of successful mentorship of trainees and junior research personnel.
• Familiarity with regulatory requirements related to animal and human translational research.

Applicants should submit:

• Curriculum vitae
• Letter of intent describing research interests and career goals
• Statement of current and future research plans
• Contact information for three professional references

All applicants for job number 541088 must apply online through Careers at UF in order to be considered for the position. All applications must be submitted online. All correspondence should be directed to Dr. Rowan Milner at

milnerr@ufl.edu

Application must be submitted by 11:55 p.m. (ET) of the posting end date.