Job Summary
The Research Scientist serves as a scientific and operational leader within the ORL, providing technical expertise, project leadership, and laboratory management in support of faculty-initiated and industry-sponsored research. This role oversees research projects from concept development through study completion while ensuring the laboratory operates safely, efficiently, and in compliance with institutional and regulatory requirements.
The ideal candidate holds a PhD (or MS with equivalent experience) in engineering, biomechanics, biomedical sciences, or a related field and demonstrates strong technical, analytical, organizational, and project management skills. A track record of hands-on research, scientific productivity, and collaborative problem-solving is essential.
This position offers a long-term career pathway with opportunities to expand leadership responsibilities over time in partnership with departmental leadership, supporting the department's missions of discovery, innovation, and education.
Department leadership envisions the ORL operating with a productivity model that emphasizes clearly defined objectives, measurable deliverables, efficient resource utilization, and timely project completion. As an ambassador for the ORL, the Research Scientist communicates laboratory capabilities to faculty, trainees, and industry partners and serves as a consultative resource for project planning, feasibility assessment, and collaboration development. The role helps establish project scope, timelines, deliverables, and resource requirements while promoting efficient project execution and minimizing scope creep.
The Research Scientist provides end-to-end leadership for research studies, including project intake, experimental design, budgeting, protocol development, prototyping, data collection, statistical analysis, interpretation of results, and dissemination through abstracts, presentations, and peer-reviewed publications. The position also contributes to grant applications, industry-sponsored proposals, scientific peer review, and the development of external collaborations.
Success in this role requires expertise in biomechanical testing, medical imaging, 3D modeling and fabrication, programming, and statistical analysis. The Research Scientist develops and maintains advanced analytical workflows using tools such as MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, SPSS, and Stata. Experience working with human and animal cadaveric tissues is highly desirable.
In addition to leading research activities, the Research Scientist oversees day-to-day laboratory operations, supervises research staff, and helps develop standard operating procedures that promote safety, quality, consistency, and operational excellence across all laboratory activities.
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The department may choose to hire at any of the below job levels and associated pay rates based on their business need and budget.
Responsibilities
- End-to-end project management
- Maintaining, calibrating, troubleshooting, and upgrading laboratory equipment and testing systems.
- Serving as the primary point of contact for laboratory equipment access, scheduling, and lockbox management.
- Coordinating annual Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) documentation updates and biannual laboratory inspections.
- Training faculty, staff, and trainees on laboratory equipment and procedures in accordance with EHS standards.
- Managing tissue procurement, inventory, storage, and disposal processes.
- Overseeing laboratory organization, maintenance of tools and supplies, and inventory management.
- Supporting purchasing, budgeting, and basic accounting functions associated with laboratory operations and research projects.
- Collecting, tracking, and reporting laboratory utilization and performance metrics.
Minimum Qualifications
EQUIVALENCY STATEMENT: 1 year of higher education can be substituted for 1 year of directly related work experience (Example: bachelor's degree = 4 years of directly related work experience).
Department may hire employee at one of the following job levels:
Research Scientist, III: Requires a PhD in engineering, biomechanics, biomedical sciences, or a related field. and 6+ years of directly related work experience.
Research Scientist, IV: Requires a PhD in engineering, biomechanics, biomedical sciences, or a related field. and 8+ years of directly related work experience.
- Demonstrated experience managing and executing scientific research projects.
- Strong technical expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and scientific communication.
- Experience with biomechanical testing systems, medical imaging technologies, and laboratory instrumentation.
- Proficiency in programming and statistical analysis using tools such as MATLAB, Python, LabVIEW, SPSS, or Stata.
- Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
Preferences
- Experience supporting grant applications and industry-sponsored research.
- Familiarity with research contracting, budgeting, and project financial management.
- Experience working with cadaveric human and/or animal tissues.
- Record of peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations.
- Experience supervising research personnel and managing shared laboratory resources.
- Knowledge of regulatory, safety, and compliance requirements relevant to biomedical research laboratories.