Research Associate (1-year Term)

Department: RENU - SQI Regenerative Eng

Salary/Grade: RES/

Job Summary:

The Querrey Simpson Institute for Regenerative Engineering (QSI RENU) is a new Institute for engineering in medicine and healthcare innovation established to foster, develop, and disseminate engineering-driven technology innovations that restore tissue and organ function to improve patient care and quality of life. The mission of this new institute predominantly integrates the talents of Northwestern University faculty from McCormick School of Engineering and Feinberg School of Medicine to create convergence research, education, and innovation ecosystem to develop enabling tools for preserving, restoring, and augmenting tissue and organ function. Staff within the Institute support this mission and are an integral part of the Institute's success.

QSI RENU has an opening for a Research Associate position who will report to QSI RENU's Director. This position will be the Facility Director for CARE (Center for Advanced Regenerative Engineering) and Ameer's Lab. This is a 1-year term position. Opportunity for renewal will be based on performance and available funding.

Successful candidates will have extensive regenerative engineering experience, thrive in a dynamic and interdisciplinary environment, and be ready to engage with researchers and investigators to match a diverse array of technologies and techniques to highly technical and specialized scientific research to produce impactful results. The candidate is expected to have a background in polymer synthesis and characterization, surface chemical functionalization, micropatterning of surfaces, assays involving cell-material interactions, experience working with preclinical models.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Design and conduct experiments, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo.
• Ability to joggle multiple in-house studies (maximum 3-4 studies at any given time)
• Ensure assigned SOPs are current and accurately reflected in executed studies/projects
• Analyze data and generate reports
• Apply for internal and external funding for research projects. This includes writing grant proposals.
• Ensure overall lab compliance with all internal and external regulations
• Mange data recording, tracking, and analysis for each project
• Manage DTC's blanket IACUC protocols
• Ability to work in a team setting
• Great communication skills
• Train and supervise lower-level core staff
• Oversee the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the center/lab
• Provide advisory support to lab and center members for grant and manuscript submissions
• Work with RENU Director to develop a strategic plan for the center/lab

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• The successful candidate will typically hold a PhD, MD, or equivalent terminal degree in their discipline. This is a non-tenure position.
• Strong academic background in biomedical engineering, material science or chemistry with focus on biomedical sciences
• Minimum of 4 years of practical lab/bench experience post terminal degree with a publication record
• Demonstrated and proficient skills in small animals handling, standard mammalian cell culture procedures, and associated aseptic techniques in addition to maintenance of tissue culture facility
• Euthanasia and harvesting/collection of organs of mice
• Ability to perform systemic rodent drug administration: IV, SC, PO, and IP injections
• Experience with software to analyze research results, e.g. Excel graphing feature or GraphPad Prism
• Ability to lead a project team
• Data presentation skills

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ph.D. in biomedical engineering, biology, chemistry, or pharmacology
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Experienced in providing technical services in an academic environment
• >4 years prior experience working as an independent investigator
• Management experience (>2 years)
• Expertise in operating and maintaining laboratory equipment associated with chemical, mechanical, and biological testing
• Experience with laboratory safety and IACUC guidelines
• Experience with spatial transcriptomics, scRNASeq
• Able to develop research objectives, independently design, plan, conduct, and troubleshoot experiments

Target hiring range for this position will be between $90,000-$100,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data

Benefits:

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.

We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.