Scripps Staff Scientist 

The Joe GN "Skip" Garcia laboratory is seeking a Staff Scientist at The Herbert Wertheim UF Scripps Institute for Biomedical Innovation & Technology in Jupiter, Florida, to join our laboratory doing high level research. The successful candidate will work in a fast-paced laboratory, on various projects pertaining to acute respiratory distress syndrome, inflammation biology, lung disease and much more, and will gain additional experience and skills during their tenure in the lab. This individual will have extensive experience in biological and laboratory sciences, who is hard working and has a desire to work as a team.

The position of Staff Scientist in the Garcia Lab will perform various tasks designed to support the impactful research of the lab including multi-dimensional experiments and assays. The ideal candidate will work independently and within the research team with significant experience and judgment to plan and accomplish defined goals in a given research project.  The candidate will have some degree of creativity and latitude and is expected to work within the team structure and be very familiar with a variety of the laboratory’s concepts, practices, and procedures. 

Primary Responsibilities

Research and experimental execution in inflammation and lung biology. 

• Perform laboratory techniques including PCR, ELISA, Western blotting, and mammalian cell culture.
• Conduct molecular and cellular assays related to inflammation, vascular permeability, and lung injury.
• Modify and optimize experimental protocols to support specific experimental goals.
• Process tissues and biological samples, perform data collection, and conduct basic data analysis.
• Isolate extracellular vesicles and analyze protein expression from human plasma for protein and genomic studies.

• Laboratory operations and resource management
  • Manage laboratory supplies, inventory, and reagent preparation.
  • Prepare buffers and solutions and coordinate ordering of equipment and chemicals with vendors.
  • Support day to day laboratory organization and compliance with standard operating procedures.
• Data analysis, presentation, and dissemination
  • Compile and analyze experimental data.
  • Present research findings at lab meetings, seminars, conferences, and other scientific venues.
  • Contribute to manuscript preparation and submission to peer reviewed journals.
• Grant, scholarly, and PI support
  • Assist the Principal Investigator with abstracts, grant proposals, and research documentation.
  • Provide guidance to lab members on experimental procedures and research techniques.
  • Perform other related duties within the scope of the position as assigned by the Principal Investigator.

• PhD in Biomedical Sciences, Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, Bioengineering, or a closely related field.
• Evidence of productivity from publications in high-quality journals originating from Ph.D. or postdoctoral work. Manuscripts that are finally accepted for publication in high-quality journals will also be considered as evidence of productivity.
• Hands on experience with advanced molecular and cellular biology techniques, which may include CRISPR based screening, gene editing, or functional genomics approaches.
• Verbal and written communication skills in English with good organizational and analytical abilities.
• Strong managerial and organizational skills. 

• Demonstrated research experience in extracellular vesicle biology, drug delivery systems, or translational therapeutic development.
• Experience conducting cancer biology research, with demonstrated focus in at least one of the following areas: drug resistance mechanisms, targeted therapeutics, or oncogenic signaling pathways.
• Ability to design, execute, and analyze complex experiments and contribute to peer reviewed publications and translational research efforts.

In order to be considered, you must upload your cover letter and resume.

Please provide names and email addresses of three to five references as part of the application process. When ready, the hiring department will contact the listed references via email requesting their reference letters to be uploaded directly to the application website.

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

This position is open to current UF employees only.

This position will not be filled until September of 2026.

The University of Florida is a member of the State University System of Florida and an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on merit.

If an accommodation due to a disability is needed to apply for this position, please call 352-392-2477 or the Florida Relay System at 800-955-8771 (TDD) or visit Accessibility at UF.