Research Support Assistant

Job Description

The Department of Internal Medicine is the largest and most complex Department in the Morsani College of Medicine with over 26 Divisions, Programs and Centers/Institutes, total human resources in excess of 1,000, and an annual all-source budget in excess of $143,000,000. The Department's ongoing growth includes the restructure of Cardiovascular Sciences from a separate Department to a Division, support of the microbiome initiative, and the execution of clinical, research and education initiatives focused on COVID-19 and emerging infectious diseases.

The mission of the Department is to rank among the elite in the nation in the areas of education, research and patient care. The Department provides education and training for a diverse group of medical students, residents, fellows and health personnel from USF and throughout the world.

The Department's research activities are numerous and involve both basic and clinical research activities in all subspecialties of Internal Medicine. Our NIH funding is in excess of $120 million over the past 3 years. Patient care occurs in our affiliated hospitals (including Tampa General Hospital, H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, James A Haley VA Hospital, Florida Hospital) as well as our state-of-the-art ambulatory health care centers. The Department also provides healthcare support and services via contractual arrangements with many diverse organizations.

The US News & World Report recent rankings of our subspecialties include Nephrology at 18, and Gastroenterology at 24 and Primary Care at 67.

The Department's faculty represents a group of dedicated physicians that are well-recognized as leaders in all three mission areas.

The Morsani College of Medicine invites applications for a Research Support Assistant position to join Dr. Markoutsa's lab within the Institute for Translational Virology and Innovation.


The lab is located at the USF Research Park Building. Salary will be competitive with entry-level research technician.

The position will be available immediately. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled or the search is closed.

Responsibilities

• Performs standard laboratory procedures such as tissue culture, biochemistry (assays for protein), and molecular biology (RNA, DNA purification and manipulation).
• The lab studies animal models (mouse). Selected candidate will perform blood and tissue collections from infected mice and analyze them using biochemically/molecular biology techniques.
• Orders laboratory equipment and supplies.
• Keeps records of the conduct and outcome of laboratory analyses.
• Assist the Pl, postdocs, and students for lab routine works.

Qualifications

Minimum


High School Diploma or equivalent and 1 year of experience. Higher education may substitute for the experience


Preferred

Bachelor's degree.

Proficiency with basic laboratory equipment and software (i.e. Microsoft Office, GraphPad Prism, lmageJ, etc.)


Those with previous experience in immunology, molecular biology and lab animals are particularly encouraged to apply.


Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate ( is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master's degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF's rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida's best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state's 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF's Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:


The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.