What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Assistant - Department of Ophthalmology position at West Virginia University?
The Department of Ophthalmology at West Virginia University's Health Science Center is currently accepting applications for a Research Assistant I.
About The Opportunity
Dr. Joel Palko is an assistant professor in the department of ophthalmology at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. He is a fellowship trained glaucoma surgeon with a wide range of research interests. This position seeks an applicant to help Dr. Palko perform research in iris registration, investigating the role ocular diseases and iris shape alter this common identification technique. Major role will be iris image collection, organization and clinical data extraction.
Benefits
We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:
West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.
From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.
At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.
Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.
West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.
Job Posting
Sep 9, 2026
Posting Classification
Classified
Exemption Status
Non-Exempt
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Schedule
Full-time
About The Opportunity
Dr. Joel Palko is an assistant professor in the department of ophthalmology at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. He is a fellowship trained glaucoma surgeon with a wide range of research interests. This position seeks an applicant to help Dr. Palko perform research in iris registration, investigating the role ocular diseases and iris shape alter this common identification technique. Major role will be iris image collection, organization and clinical data extraction.
Benefits
We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:
- 37.5-hour work week
- 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
- 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
- 18 sick days per year (for when you’re ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family’s, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
- WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
- 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ’s.
- Wellness programs
- Iris image collection using the TD-100 camera
- Clinical data collection and organization. Each patient enrolled in the study will have demographic (age, sex, race) and clinical ocular information.
- Baseline image analysis and annotation: Iris color, pupil size, light exposure/brightness for all images will be collected.
- Assistance with iris coding/filtering and calculation of Hamming distance before and after iris interventions
- Preparation of manuscripts
- Document, analyze and present experimental results and discuss findings.
- Bachelor's degree
- A minimum of six (6) months of relevant experience
- Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
- All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.
- Ability to take initiative on projects and problem-solve
- Attention to detail, strong organization skills
- Ability to write manuscripts for publication
West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.
From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.
At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values — service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation — unite us as Mountaineers.
Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.
West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.
Job Posting
Sep 9, 2026
Posting Classification
Classified
Exemption Status
Non-Exempt
Benefits Eligible
Yes
Schedule
Full-time