Research Lab Specialist Assoc

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Draelos lab, in the departments of Biomedical Engineering and Computational Medicine & Bioinformatics, is seeking candidates for a 1-year Research Lab Specialist Associate position. This is primarily for work on an NIH-funded project developing multimodal variational autoencoder models and probabilistic trajectory analyses for latent spaces formed from neural, genetic, and behavioral data.

• Responsible for the operation of a specialized laboratory within a department or research program.
• Has an active role in the design, execution and outcome assessment of a project or research study.
• Coordinates the collection and analysis of data and the conduct of experimental tests and procedures.
• Provides input into the development of mathematical and/or computer models for analyzing experimental data.
• Trains users in equipment operation and laboratory techniques. Explains and demonstrates technology and equipment capabilities, operations limitations and outcomes.
• Increased responsibility for writing research support proposals and acquiring data from outside agencies.
• May act as a liaison with other departments, programs or organizations for acquiring data and sharing information related to the research project.

Bachelor's Degree is required. 1-3 years of experience in a related field as well as experience in the following areas:

Contribution to Research Design
Able to develop, design and conduct more complex experiments in line with a research plan and reviews results periodically with faculty member or senior research staff member.
Expected to provide more input into the development of procedures and in research design.

Data Analysis
Experience with multimodal machine learning, variational autoencoders, and/or similar machine learning or AI models implemented in Python.
Responsible for implementing components of research design analysis.
Responsible for developing components of the data analysis system (computer models, instrumentation, statistical models) for data analysis.
Able to evaluate results and recommend improvements in research design and modeling.

Technical Support
Provides technical assistance in operation and calibration of instrumentation and other research equipment including shared resources.
Takes more responsibility for ensuring equipment is operating according to specifications.
Functions as a technical advisor on components of the research, working in a higher level of autonomy.

Literature Search/Writing
Able to perform literature searches relevant to the research.
Responsible for writing certain components of progress reports and manuscripts.
May co-author publications and may co-present results with the PI in formal meetings.

Supervision
Functional and administrative supervision may be exercised over lab assistants, graduate students and other assigned research and support personnel.
Plans and coordinates work of lab assistants, graduate students, entry level research staff, and other support personnel.

Decision-Making
Can make some independent decisions that impact research operations with minimal supervision.

Master's Degree preferred.

**This is a one-year term-limited position with the possibility of extension based upon need and funding. At the end of the stated term, your appointment will terminate, and will not be eligible for Reduction-in-Force (RIF) benefits. This term-limited appointment does not create a contract or guarantee of employment for any period of time as you will remain subject to disciplinary or other performance measures, up to and including termination, at the will of the University in accordance with existing University policy and standards for employee performance and conduct.