Research Scientist

Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working with a high degree of independence and under general direction and mentorship from the Principal Investigator, the Research Scientist will lead, design, and execute translational pulmonary and critical care research projects focused on sepsis, hemolysis, immune dysfunction, cardiovascular injury, host response biology, and critical illness.

This individual will work directly with the Principal Investigator on a regular basis while operating independently on current grant funded laboratory projects. Responsibilities include independent experimental design and execution, generation of rigorous and reproducible data, analysis and interpretation of experimental findings, presentation of results, preparation of manuscripts, and development of preliminary data for future grant applications.

The Research Scientist is expected to develop scientific independence over time and to apply for external grant funding under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator. The position will include mentored training in grantsmanship, project framing, preliminary data development, manuscript preparation, response to review, and the responsible conduct of translational biomedical research.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1.    Independently design, plan, conduct, troubleshoot, and refine experiments supporting mechanistic studies in pulmonary and critical care research. Projects may include human biospecimen studies, biochemical assays, immunologic assays, cell based experiments, animal models, and mechanistic studies related to sepsis, hemolysis, inflammatory signaling, endothelial injury, cardiovascular dysfunction, and host immune responses/ Maintain high standards for experimental rigor, reproducibility, quality control, data integrity, and adherence to approved laboratory SOPs, IACUC protocols, IRB protocols, biosafety practices, and institutional requirements. (20%)

2.    Support and lead major components of existing funded projects in the laboratory. Establish project timelines, coordinate experimental priorities, maintain organized records of study progress, and provide regular scientific updates to the Principal Investigator. Generate results and data that advance funded aims, support manuscript development, and create preliminary data for future applications. Identify experimental barriers and recommend solutions to improve study execution and scientific yield. (20%)

3.    Analyze biochemical, immunologic, molecular, cellular, animal, and human biospecimen data using appropriate analytic methods. Perform data quality review, identify technical inconsistencies, conduct statistical or quantitative summaries when appropriate, and prepare clear scientific interpretations of findings. Assemble publication quality figures, tables, summaries, and data packages for laboratory meetings, manuscripts, abstracts, progress reports, and grant applications. (10%)

4.    Independently write and apply for grants as Principal Investigator. Submit subsequent grant applications as needed to maintain independent research and funding. (10%)

5.    Prepare and contribute to manuscripts as first author and coauthor based on discoveries from research performed in the laboratory. Draft abstracts, posters, oral presentations, scientific summaries, and progress reports for internal and external audiences. Present data and findings at laboratory meetings, research conferences, seminars, collaborator meetings, and grant planning sessions. Communicate findings clearly to the Principal Investigator, laboratory members, collaborators, and trainees. (15%)

6.    Develop grant concepts, specific aims, preliminary data packages, research strategy sections, figures, and supporting documents under the mentorship of the Principal Investigator. Learn and apply principles of rigorous grant writing, study design, grantsmanship, and response to reviewer critique. Apply for external funding opportunities appropriate to career stage and scientific focus, including foundation awards, institutional pilot awards, career development awards, and federal grant mechanisms when applicable. (10%)

7.    Develop, evaluate, and refine experimental protocols, SOPs, assay workflows, sample processing procedures, data management practices, and quality assurance processes. Coordinate experiments performed by laboratory staff and trainees when appropriate.Provide technical guidance and training to research assistants, technicians, students, fellows, and other laboratory members in experimental methods, data organization, documentation, and scientific reasoning. (10%)

8.    Meet regularly with the Principal Investigator to review research progress, experimental plans, data interpretation, manuscript development, and grant strategy. Participate collaboratively with investigators, laboratory personnel, clinical research teams, cores, and external collaborat