PostBac or Post Master's Research Associate

Position Title: Research Associate - Khormaee Laboratory, Spine Surgery

Commitment: 1 year, starting May/June 2024

Job Description

A position is available for a candidate at the Hospital for Special Surgery within the Khormaee Lab focused on engineering principles toward improved effectiveness, efficiency and affordability of spine surgery. Qualified candidates must have a recent B.S., M.S. or equivalent in bioengineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, neuroscience or a related field.

As a research associate with the Khormaee laboratory, you will collaborate with scientists, engineers, and clinicians to advance research in the biologic/material interface for spinal devices. You will contribute to and help develop various interdisciplinary projects, engaging heavily in publication and grant writing. Research associates are expected to be key contributors in projects and be contributing authors on multiple papers during their tenure.

Current projects with this laboratory group include exploring the use of ultrasound shear-wave elastography to measure soft tissue properties of the spine in patients/volunteers/cadavers, mechanical testing of spine implants to evaluate fatigue properties especially for implants available in low-to-middle income countries, and using alginate hydrogels to explore cell-implant surface interaction.

General Responsibilities

• Collecting, analyzing and reporting on experimental data to the Principal Investigator in a timely manner.
• Maintain accurate and detailed records and databases of all laboratory work and experiments.
• Apply standard scientific protocols to experiments, research and improve current methods, and develop, set-up, and verify new procedures in the laboratory.
• Troubleshoot and correct erroneous results or problems with laboratory equipment.
• Maintain and monitor proper use of laboratory equipment by personnel.
• Draft, write, and edit scientific papers and grants.
• Participate and contribute to the laboratory's meetings, departmental seminars, presentations, and publications.
• Organization and recording of research material inventory, and placing orders for research reagents in a timely manner.
• Completion of all required training—including C14, animal usage, handling hazardous material, and laboratory safety.

Required Qualifications

• M.S., B.S. or equivalent required, students with expected impending graduation are also encouraged to apply.
• Two Years of laboratory research experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and composure.
• Adherence to high ethical standards at all times.
• Ability to analyze data and translate into both lay and scientific terms. Ability to use technical ability to troubleshoot and work independently.
• Highly self-motivated, able to work both independently and in multidisciplinary teams including engineers, biologists, clinicians and statisticians.

The following experience and skills are desired for applicants:

• Project experience in the following:
• Use and troubleshooting of tensile testing devices, including familiarity with analyzing and generating force-displacement and stress-strain curves.
• Mechanical characterization of biological tissues or models of biologic substrates (e.g. hydrogels), primarily at the micro and nanoscale.
• Cell handling (tissue culture, FACS), tissue/cellular imaging, including histology, confocal imaging, and uCT.
• Computer-aided design for the 3D modeling of mechanical parts.
• Scientific and statistical computing software, such as STATA, MATLAB and R.
• Coding languages for numerical methods and data analysis, e.g. MATLAB or similar.
• Ultrasound imaging.
• A record of peer reviewed publications and enthusiasm for preparation/publication of grant applications and manuscripts.

Interested candidates should email a brief statement expressing their interest, CV and transcripts with “2024 Research Associate Application” in the subject line to Michael Yancey (Research Bioengineer) at yanceym@hss.edu and CC skoffice@hss.edu.

For further information about the Khormaee Lab and its research, please visit www.skspine.com.

Employment Type

Full-time, Onsite

Pay Range

USD $65,000.00-72,000.00/Yr.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,000.00 - $72,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Ability to Relocate:

• New York, NY 10021: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person