Research Lead (Electrophysiologist)

Scheduled hours per week: 40

Scheduled months per year: 12

Remote work eligibility: Hybrid

Hiring range: $59,200 to $74,000

Position purpose

Serve as a member of a multidisciplinary research lab with a global reach developing and executing electrophysiological research and related equipment and data. Under the direction of the principal investigator, uses creativity and innovation to meet the electrophysiological research needs of the laboratory’s research scope. The Research Lead should have the ability to work independently to learn new software, techniques, and skills that may be needed. The candidate will be able to apply their background to a variety of projects in the lab and work with diverse research teams both in the US and internationally.

The Space Medicine Innovations Lab’s current areas of research are:

• Assessing brain function using the brain’s auditory system in people with various conditions (HIV, COVID, and Alzheimer’s) – Involves work with neurocognitive assessments, central auditory tests, electrophysiology tests (e.g. frequency following response, P300), and MRI
• Developing new audiological tests for use both in the US and the developing world –Involves work with new audiological testing technologies
• Testing and developing self-directed, autonomous, interactive-media-based behavioral health tools and virtual reality for use in isolated and confined environments (e.g. Antarctic stations) and other settings – Involves work with VR technology and web-based behavioral health tools
• Use of hyperbaric oxygen for research and clinical applications – Involves work with hyperbaric chambers and a research registry
• Other technology/science projects– Previous areas of interest have included motion sickness, space-related bone loss, visual changes in astronauts, numerical modelling of the cranial venous system, and noise-induced hearing loss.

Key accountabilities

Laboratory:

• Lead the planning, execution, and data analysis for the electrophysiological research components of projects. Signals include cortical potentials, frequency following response, auditory brain stem response data/signals.
• Develops and implements protocols around experiments, data collection, analysis, and reporting.
• Develops project scopes, research plans, technical requirements, schedules, milestones, budgets, and resource plans. Regularly provides updates on status of deliverables.
• Coordinates multiple concurrent research efforts and establishes priorities in collaboration with principal investigators and technical leads.
• Identify project risks, dependencies, and resource constraints and develop mitigation strategies.
• Serve as a technical project-management interface.
• Assess project progress, identify critical issues, and facilitate informed decision-making.
• Coordinates experiments, laboratory activities, modeling and simulation efforts, instrumentation development, and data-analysis activities as appropriate.
• Coordinate laboratory, equipment, facilities, personnel, and other resources required to execute research.
• Support compliance with institutional policies, laboratory safety requirements, research protocols, and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Facilitate effective communication among researchers, engineers, project sponsors, institutional leadership, and external partners.
• Organize and lead project meetings, technical reviews, planning sessions, and milestone reviews.
• Communicates technical issues and project risks clearly to both the principal investigator.
• The position is expected to maintain sufficient technical fluency to understand research objectives, experimental methodologies, computational approaches, technical dependencies, and scientific risks without necessarily serving as the primary technical investigator.

Data Management & Communications:

• Translates, maintains, cleans, organizes, and archives research data. Prepares data for publications.
• Performs data analysis and prepares results for publications and presentation at conferences and events. May present findings to broader research audiences.
• Supports writing grants and publications. Supports preparation and management of research proposals, statements of work, budgets, and funding applications.
• Establishes processes for tracking research outputs, milestones, deliverables, and performance metrics.

Required qualifications: education and experience

Bachelors or equivalent combination of education and experience

Required qualifications: skills, knowledge and abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, neuro/brain sciences, physics, engineering, or a closely related field.
• 8+ years of experience managing scientific or engineering research projects, programs, or complex technical initiatives.
• Experience with multidisciplinary research programs involving experimental and computational components.
• Proven experience with design, development, and maintenance of specialized research tools or software such as electrophysiological recording systems.
• Proven knowledge of electrophysiological protocols and practices.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

Preferred qualifications

• 10+ years of experience managing scientific or engineering research projects, programs, or complex technical initiatives.
• Master’s in psychology, neuro/brain sciences, physics, engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with MATLAB
• Experience in higher education.
• Familiarity with project-management methodologies and tools.
• Experience developing research proposals, technical reports, budgets, and statements of work.