Research Specialist

The LINC project brings together a multi-disciplinary group of experts from 9 institutions to develop novel imaging technologies and combine them with machine learning to produce detailed wiring diagrams of the brain. The Research Specialist will contribute by collecting and analyzing ex vivo MRI and optical microscopy images.

Essential Functions

• Investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement.
• Contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals and presentations.
• Develops proposals and study plans, and coordinates the institutional and external reviews of these proposals.
• Responsible for supervising routine reports of laboratory studies, particularly as stipulated in material transfer agreements or corporate-sponsored research agreements.
• Reports on the progress of work at weekly laboratory seminars.
• Semi-autonomously writes up experimental work for grant applications, book chapters, and journal publications.
• Responsible for preparing summaries of laboratory studies for meeting presentations and publications.
• Calculates, transcribes, analyzes, and prepares figures of data using advanced statistical techniques.
• Semi-autonomously identifies, interprets, and applies findings and methods from scientific literature relevant to projects.

Role Specific Duties

• Develop tissue processing and data acquisition protocols for MRI and/or optical microscopy.
• Plan, monitor, and revise data acquisition schedules to meet the milestones of the project, in close coordination with the Principal Investigator.
• Handle and prepare post mortem brain samples for imaging.
• Perform and troubleshoot MRI and/or optical microscopy scans of post mortem brain samples.
• Monitor the performance of imaging equipment and communicate with manufacturers as needed to schedule maintenance.
• Write, test, and troubleshoot computer code for the analysis and visualization of the imaging data.
• Assist with quality assurance, pre-processing, and annotation of imaging data.
• Assist with maintaining lab documentation, software repositories, and data archives.
• Assist with compiling research publications, proposals, and progress reports.
• Onboard and train new research staff on data acquisition, management, and analysis.

Role Specific Skills

• Strong mathematical skills, as evidenced by relevant coursework.
• The ideal candidate will have a degree in engineering, applied math, computer science, or related field, and a demonstrated interest in neuroscience and imaging.
• Excellent organizational skills, oral and written communication skills.
• High comfort level with computers.
• Ability to work independently as well as within an integrated research team.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and handle fluctuating priorities and deadlines.
• A high degree of professionalism and attention to detail.

Role Specific Experience

3-5 years of prior professional experience in a biomedical imaging research lab setting, performing both data acquisition and analysis. Prior experience in MRI or optical imaging.

Supervisory Responsibility

The Research Specialist may supervise up to 4 team members at any given time, including junior technicians or interns.

Working Conditions

The position involves working in MRI or optical imaging facilities with fixed post mortem brains, as well as working in a computer lab. Flexibility to perform or monitor data acquisition on evenings or weekends, depending on scheduling constraints of the respective imaging facilities, is required.