Senior Research Associate

Description

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Shoffstall lab focuses on two primary areas of research: 1) biomedical materials design and testing (including injectable and resorbable electrodes, novel material coatings and substrates, and tissue response), and 2) neural engineering and modulation (including neural anatomy, imaging, and targeted drug delivery for therapeutic applications). The Senior Research Associate will oversee research projects within the lab, providing scientific oversight, guidance to lab members, and lab management in the absence of the principal investigator. The Senior Research Associate will design and plan projects, oversee collaborations, supervise staff and students, manage animal models, and fully execute research projects with the aim of furthering the scientific goals of the lab and obtaining new and/or maintaining current funding. The Senior Research Associate will utilize various biomedical lab methods, especially tissue sectioning and histology analysis,  electron microscopy, and tissue image analysis techniques. The Senior Research Associate will keep the PI informed of progress of research projects and provide recommendations on experimental design and project plans. The Senior Research Associate will also present data and findings at lab and scientific meetings and seminars, prepare manuscripts, and contribute preliminary data for grant proposals. 

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1.       Provide scientific oversight of all research projects, including data collection and maintenance. Especially direct preparation of nerve samples (cadaveric and occasionally animal samples) for histology and electron microscopy, perform staining and image collection, evaluate imaging for data completeness and quality, correlate image pipeline processes with other project image analysis techniques, and review and present data to the lab and collaborators.  Establish and manage the day-to-day priorities of the research staff. Perform tasks related to newly established NeuroHistology core lab (25%)

2.       Coordinate experiments performed by other lab members, ensuring adequate resources, assisting with experimental design and analysis. Oversee progress of the research projects and provide regular progress reports to the PI; and provide input and recommendation to principal investigator regarding significant developments in research projects. Ensure the PI is informed about the results of lab members, and ensure the PI’s experimental strategy is explored by lab members and through independent experiments by the Senior Research Associate. (25%)

3.       With the principal investigator, establish goals and objectives for the efficient and timely completion of projects. Meet regularly with the principal investigator to review and set priorities, staff/student-related issues, and future research staff and planning. (10%)

4.       Independently and with the principal investigator, design, plan, and execute research projects with the aim of furthering the research goals of the laboratory, conducting and completing projects supported by funding agencies. Perform analysis of nerve and other tissue samples by histology and electron microscopy.  Maintain accurate records of data and provide findings and recommendations to the PI based on analysis. (10%)

5.       Mentor and train lab staff and graduate students; oversee research work and ensure pro jects are being completed according to the research plan. This will involve teaching other members of the lab techniques and scientific discovery methods, including students and post-docs. Assist and teach both established and new research techniques to other lab members to facilitate their experiments. Coordinate trainings for lab members with the EHS and others, as needed. (10%)

6.       Independently author research projects. Assemble data and make publication-quality figures from analyzed data. With the highest level of integrity and responsible conduct of research, participate in writing manuscripts as first author and co-author for discoveries from research performed in the lab, together with the PI and other lab members. (10%)

 

NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1.       Develop new techniques and protocols to advance research projects within the lab. Train lab members on new techniques. Assess, update, and develop new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the lab.  (5%)

2.       Present data and finding