POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE DEPARTMENT OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE

About FIU Florida International University is a Top 50, preeminent public research university with 55,000 students from all 50 states and more than 140 countries, as well as an alumni network of more than 340,000. Located in the global city of Miami, the university offers more than 200 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate and professional levels, including medicine and law. FIU faculty are leaders in their fields and include National Academy members, Fulbright Scholars and MacArthur Genius Fellows. A Carnegie R1 institution, FIU drives impactful research in environmental resilience, health and technology and innovation. Home to the Wall of Wind and Institute of Environment, FIU stands at the forefront of discovery and innovation. With a focus on student success, economic mobility and community engagement, FIU is redefining what it means to be a public research university. Job Information Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine is a national leader in integrating community-based medical education and clinical care. We are dedicated to training socially accountable physicians, scientists, and health professionals committed to serving the community. The College of Medicine is also an academic and clinical affiliate of Baptist Health and Nicklaus Children's Hospital. The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University is currently seeking a full-time, non-tenure Postdoctoral Associate position within the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, under the supervision of Dr. David Kalfa in the Kalfa Lab for Congenital Heart Research. The selected candidate will conduct translational cardiovascular research focusing on polymer science, choice of the right polymers, characterization of the polymers, design optimization based on polymer knowledge, advanced mechanical testing and development of new polymers if needed. The Postdoctoral Associate will be responsible for selecting polymers based on the mechanics and biological requirement, designing and fabricating polymeric scaffolds using established and innovative, performing advanced mechanical testing and developing new polymers if needed. The selected candidate will also be responsible for analyzing scientific data, writing manuscripts for publication, and assisting with grant proposals to agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH ), the American Heart Association, and the National Science Foundation. Duties will also include service to the College of Medicine (e.g., committee membership, journal review), grant writing, and applying for federal and/or state funding. Lastly, the selected candidate is expected to possess excellent project and time management skills, strong interpersonal and mentoring skills, and advocate for safety and ethics in the workplace. For more detailed information on research in the lab, please visit our website: https://medicine.fiu.edu/research/labs/kalfa-lab/ Minimum Qualifications Minimum qualifications include a terminal degree (PhD). Desired Qualifications Desired Qualifications: Prior experience in polymer science with a focus on biomaterials for cardiovascular applications is mandatory. Hands-on expertise in scaffold fabrication techniques ' particularly electrospinning, dip-molding, and lyophilization ' is highly preferred. Candidates should have strong proficiency in mechanical characterization methods (e.g., uniaxial tensile testing, suture retention, peel testing), hydrodynamic performance evaluation, and standard histological and immunofluorescence analyses. Experience with in vivo small animal surgical models, particularly vascular implantation, is highly desirable. A demonstrated publication record in cardiovascular biomaterials, tissue engineering, or regenerative medicine is preferred. Qualified candidates are encouraged to apply to Job Opening ID 537280 at https://facultycareers.fiu.edu/ and attach letter of interest and curriculum vitae in a single pdf file . Candidates will be requested to provide names and contact information for at least three references (previous supervisors). To receive full consideration, applications and required materials should be received by 5/31/2026 . Review will continue until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to review Florida International University's immigration and visa requirements, if applicable, prior to applying: https://hr.fiu.edu/employees-affiliates/working-at-fiu/immigration-process Job Category Faculty Pre-Employment Requirements Criminal Background Check How To Apply Current Employee As a current employee, you must log into Employee Self Service (ESS) to apply for this and any other internal career opportunity of interest. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in " My Applications ". To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing. Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume/ curriculum vitae, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. *This posting will close at 12:00 am of the close date. How To Apply Prospective Employee If you have not created a registered account, you will be asked to create a username and password for use of the system. It is recommended that you provide an active/valid e-mail account as that will be the main source of communication regarding your status within the process. In this account, you are able to track your applicant status in " My Applications ". To be considered eligible for the position as an internal candidate, departmental staff must meet minimum requirements of the position and be in good performance standing. Before you begin the process, we recommend that you are prepared to attach electronic copies of your resume, cover letter or any other documents within the application process. It is recommended that you combine your cover letter and resume/curriculum vitae into one attachment. Attached documents should be in Microsoft Word or PDF format. All applicants are required to complete the online application including work history and educational details (if applicable), even when attaching a resume. *This posting will close at 12:00 am of the close date. Disclosures Clery Notice In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act , the University Police department at Florida International University provides information on crimes statistics, crime prevention, law enforcement, crime reporting, and other related issues for the past three (3) calendar years. The FIU Annual Security report is available online at: https://police.fiu.edu/download/annual-security-fire-safety-report/ . To obtain a paper copy of the report, please visit the FIU Police Department located at 885 SW 109th Avenue, Miami, FL, 33199 (PG5 Market Station). Pay Transparency Florida International University will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. Notice of Non-Discrimination FIU is a State University System of Florida member, Equal Opportunity, Equal Access, and Affirmative Action Employer for individuals with disabilities and veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment decisions, programs, and events without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For inquiries regarding non-discrimination, contact FIU's Office of Civil Rights at 305.348.2785 or email ocr@fiu.edu. Reasonable Accommodation Statement Should you need an ADA accommodation to participate in a University event, program, or activity or need to request materials in an accessible format, please contact FIU's Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at 305-348-2785 or accommodations@fiu.edu. All requests for ADA accommodation or accessible materials for this event must be submitted to OCR at least seven (7) business days prior to the event or at the earliest possible opportunity.