POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working under limited supervision, coordinate research work in medical and related technical areas. The Research Assistant 3 will contribute to the development of innovative multimodal, artificial intelligence (AI)-based oncological biomarkers, with a particular emphasis on prostate, thoracic and central nervous system cancers. Key responsibilities include the development of institutional review board (IRB)-compliant protocols, as well as acquiring, maintaining, and processing multimodal data, such as clinical information, imaging, and pathology slides, while completing all required training to ensure safe operation and interaction with imaging and pathology platforms. The research assistant will analyze data using existing software or develop custom tools in MATLAB as necessary. Additional duties include performing comprehensive literature reviews to remain informed on current state-of-the-art methodologies and compiling results from simulations and experimental work into abstracts for submission to scientific conferences. This position will work with animals.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

1. Coordinate laboratory/ research activities. Write institutional review board (IRB)-supported protocols to acquire institutional patient data, and data from external collaborating institutions. Coordinate data acquisition between internal and external resources and laboratory staff. Data include and are not limited to demographics, clinical features, DICOM radiology images and radiation oncology treatment plans, digital pathology images, and outcomes. Using the acquired data, build a multi-modal and multi-institutional database. Access the multi-modal database for AI-based analysis in order to develop new diagnostic, prognostic, and predictive biomarkers. (20%)
2. Work closely with the principal investigator in managing cancer research, resolving questions and correcting scientific errors. Design and manage individual experiments, reporting these in a consistent fashion and in a timely manner, managing issues of the scientific method including positive and negative controls, reproducibility, sample size estimate valuation, trends and troubleshooting, and refining techniques into standard operating procedures in the laboratory (10%)  
3. Carry out complex research assignments of a non-routine nature. Analyze raw data to build diagnostic and therapeutic tools using common software (MATLAB, Python) for analysis. Process the database and perform AI-based analysis on the multi-modal database in medical imaging and radiation therapy (10%)  
4. Devise new protocols and techniques for research projects involving a high degree of skill and training. Develop specialized research protocols and strategies to address challenges in radiation oncology care and generate relevant hypothesis. Use multi-institutional data to address new clinical challenges (10%)  
5. Evaluate adequacy of techniques; study and test new procedures and analyze data.Maintain records of experiments. Research assistant will store the generated code in Github repository for other members of lab to use, evaluate the clinical context and reproducibility of the computational results, Collate results into an abstract to be submitted to oncology, imaging, and pathology scientific conference.(10%)
6. May supervise students and technicians in IRB writing, data acquisition, data management and analysis, and manuscript writing. Collaborate with other team members for data acquisition and maintenance (10%)
7. May co-author research projects. Participate in manuscript and grant writing, co-author research projects and provide data to the principal investigator and laboratory members for sponsor progress reports, manuscripts, grant and pilot applications. (10%)
8. May monitor the laboratory budget. Manage procurement, ensure order invoices are submitted to PI.  (5%)

NONESSENTIAL

1. Maintain high power computing stations, updated software, and external drives. (5%). 
2. Order computational laboratory supplies such as monitors, high power computing stations, external drives, power supplies. (5%)
3. Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

CONTACTS

Department: Daily contact with supervisor and lab members to discuss research and maintain workflow.

University: Occasional contact with other departments to share information.

External: Occasional contact with vendors and external collaborators to exchange information.

Students: Regular contact with visiting and graduate student members of the lab and the radiation oncology research group to exchange information.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY 

May supervise students and technicians.

QUALIFICATIONS 

Experience: 3 to 5 years of related experience required.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree required.

REQUIRED SKILLS 

1. Has knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures within the radiology and radiation oncology fields.
2. Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job. 
3. Ability to operate computational laboratory equipment. 
4. Demonstrated history of successful support, education, and advocacy for all students, aligned with the values, mission, and messaging of the university, while adhering to the staff policy on conflict of commitment and interest.
5. Ability to meet consistent attendance.
6. Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.
7. Previous experience working with animals preferred.
8. Must demonstrate compassion for animals within CWRU facilities and dedication to the Animal Resource Center's mission. Must handle animals with care and respect at all times.
9. Must demonstrate compliance with CWRU animal research and care (ARC) policies and procedures and compliance to regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policy, AAALAC guidelines and other applicable regulatory guidelines.
10. Must be able and willing to learn new concepts related to medical and radiation oncology diagnosis, prognostication, and treatments.
11. Has ability to understand, modify and write scripts and codes in MATLAB and Python.
12. Understands and has experience in the use of electronic health records to access, story, and analyze personal health information (PHI).
13. Professional and effective verbal and written communication skills and good interpersonal skills with

the ability to work and communicate with various individuals within and external to the University.

1. Ability to work effectively independently and collaboratively within a team (must be highly motivated, responsible, dependable and a self-starter).
2. Ability to work with sensitive information and maintain confidentiality.
3. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is preferred. 
4. Must have the ability to maintain meticulous, complete, and easily retrievable laboratory data.
5. Must have the ability to willingly learn new techniques and procedures as needed, follow established protocols or laboratory procedures and request clarification if necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS

General laboratory environment. May have exposure to radiation hazards. Radiation Oncology and MRI suites appropriate safety training. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including lab coats, gloves and googles, may be required and provided to limit exposure to hazards. The lab is an open floor plan and ample desk space with computers are also provided. The candidate should expect frequent interactions with lab members from that lab and must be willing to collaborate. 

Case Western Reserve University's animal facilities are accredited by the Associate for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) and is managed according to the ¿Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals¿ appropriate Federal Animal Welfare Regulations, and the Public Health Service ¿Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals.¿ This position and all animal research personnel are subject to internal compliance to the School of Medicine's Animal Resource Center Standard Operating Procedures and to compliance regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policy, AAALAC guidelines, the State of Ohio Veterinary Practice Act, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration regulatory guidelines, US Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine regulations and other applicable regulatory guidelines. 

Apply online at jobs.case.edu search job 14472