Senior Research Specialist

Job Profile Summary 

This role focuses on performing work related to research and development of new products, innovation, and improvement of products and processes.  In addition, this role focuses on performing the following Research Programs and Projects duties: Supports the development of new products and innovation.  Includes Clinical roles focused on research projects.  Positions in this family perform basic, translational, and/or clinical research towards solving a specific problem for an entity or community.  A professional individual contributor role that may direct the work of other lower level professionals or manage processes and programs.  The majority of time is spent overseeing the design, implementation or delivery of processes, programs and policies using specialized knowledge and skills typically acquired through advanced education.   A specialist level role that is a recognized subject matter expert in job area typically obtained through advanced education and work experience.  Typically manages large projects or processes with limited oversight from manager, coaches, reviews and delegates work to lower level professionals, resolving difficult and often complex problems. 

Job Overview 

Under the general direction of the Principal Investigator, this position carries out a broad range of advanced research activities which require recognized expertise in complex, specialized processes or techniques, and an associated knowledge of current developments within a particular area of biomedical research.   Investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies that contribute to the advancement or success of complex research projects.   

Job Description 

Minimum Qualifications: 

1. Master’s degree in a related field of science. 

2. Eight (8) years of research related experience. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Doctoral degree in a related field of science. 

2. Ten (10) years of research related experience. 

Duties and Responsibilities: The duties and responsibilities listed below are intended to describe the general nature of work and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list.  Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned. 

1. Responsible for the research, development, design, and execution of experiments that contribute to research project strategies. 

2. Evaluates conclusions and has considerable latitude to modify or devise methods or techniques to achieve desired results. 

3. Acts as key writer of major portions of scientific articles.   

4. Supervises and trains Research Assistants, Research Associates, Postdoctoral Fellows, similar positions, and administrative support staff. 

5. Performs the role of Operations Manager/Operations Supervisor. 

6. May be responsible for a major portion of a complex project from start to finish. 

7. Prepares technical reports, summaries, protocols, quantitative analysis, and displays of data for presentation.   

8. Maintains collaborative team relationships with peers and colleagues in order to effectively contribute to the working group’s achievement of goals, and to help foster a positive work environment. 

9. Maintains established department policies, procedures, objectives, quality assurance, safety, environmental and infection control.   

Physical Requirements:  

1. This is largely a sedentary role, which involves sitting most of the time, but may involve movements such as walking, standing, reaching, ascending/descending stairs, and operating office equipment.       

2. Frequently required to speak, hear, communicate, and exchange information.       

3. Ability to see and read computer displays, read fine print, and/or normal type size print and distinguish letters, numbers and symbols.       

4. Requires manual dexterity using fine hand manipulation to operate computer keyboard.     

Skills & Abilities: 

1. Possess unique, specialized technical skill/knowledge. 

2. Outstanding problem-solving skills. 

3. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work under pressure as well as with other members of the research team. 

4. Must possess strong oral and written communication skills, attention to detail and reliability. 

5. Highly organized and highly trustworthy. 

6. Maintains a knowledge base of the most current techniques and scientific developments within a particular area of biomedical research.