The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine has an exciting opportunity for a Research Associate 2. This position will be based in Dr. Luisa Cimmino’s laboratory which focuses on how epigenetic regulators, such as the Ten-Eleven-Translocation (TET) dioxygenases, modulate DNA methylation to influence cell fate and are frequently mutated in patients with leukemia. Dietary nutrients have been shown to play a profound influence on blood cell production and in the progression of leukemia. We have recently shown that vitamin C, acts as a cofactor of TET dioxygenases to enhance and restore TET function in pre-leukemic and leukemic cells (Cimmino et al. Cell, 2017; Cimmino et al. Trends in Cell Biology, 2018). These studies highlight the importance of the micronutrient environment in maintaining the activity of critical epigenetic regulators that drive and influence disease progression and reveal potentially novel strategies to therapeutically target epigenetic dysregulation.

The minimum qualifications for this position are as follows: Bachelor’s Degree in a life science discipline as well as at least two years of laboratory experience, preferably in the fields of immunology, blood cancer, or epigenetics. Experience in research techniques including DNA/RNA isolation, PCR, sequencing, western blotting, mammalian tissue culture, flow cytometry, microscopy, library screening, and mouse monitoring and handling.