Assistant Research Scientist/Engineer - Department of Surgery

Position Summary

Participate in the design, execution, supervision, and publication of acute care surgery, trauma, burn, and injury prevention related research studies. Assist with a variety of tasks including IRB protocol development and maintenance, trauma/burn registry data analysis, data collection, database design, implementation, and maintenance, statistical analysis, and the interpretation and writing of peer-reviewed manuscripts associated with performance improvement, injury prevention, and research projects being performed within the division. Assist with grant preparation and submit grants as a PI, Co-PI, or co-investigator.

Specific Job Duties and Tasks

Experiments, Simulations, Modeling or Theoretical Investigations

• Able to work independently on advanced to complex research tasks with minimal oversight by faculty or principal investigators (PI)
• Initiate research design and methodology
• Develop hypotheses to be tested and select appropriate methodology.
• Maintain laboratory equipment and databases.
• Coordinate and conduct research.
• Collect data and evaluate relevance of data.
• Contribute to documentation of equipment and procedures.

Data/Research Analysis and Evaluation

• Perform advanced data analysis techniques
• Develop new applications of existing data analysis techniques
• Analyze data for relevance, data quality and validity
• Assist in the design, implementation and maintenance of data bases.
• Develop and implement analytic procedures
• Compare results of scientific investigations to previously published work.

Dissemination of Research Results

• Prepare and submit manuscripts as contributing or first author for publication
• Review manuscripts for peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Present results in departmental seminars and at professional meetings.
• Provide results to research collaborators and community stakeholders
• Maintain a strong record of publications through contribution and first author efforts within the specific department and the overall research community. 
• Prepare manuscripts for contributing author for publication
• Present results in departmental seminars and at professional meetings

Research Proposals/Grants

• Contribute to new or continuing research grant proposals to obtain funding for research activities
• Obtain grant funding as a PI, Co-PI or Co-Investigator 
• Investigate and share applicable sources of funding 
• Responsible for drafting new IRB applications for studies, completing modifications and continuing reviews 
• Maintain a working knowledge of IRB, WIRB policy, procedures and ethical practices of scientific research

Service

• Participate in public outreach activities as projects and findings of research activities indicate
• Serve on grant review panels and committees (division, departmental, university-based and community based) as requested and as expertise indicates
• Review submitted manuscripts and research proposals
• Consult and collaborate within the research community.

Human Resources/Supervision

• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students. Provide direction, assignments, feedback, coaching and counseling to assure outcomes are achieved. 
• Co-supervise medical students and undergraduates participating in division research and injury prevention projects.
• Provide input into graduate student research activities 
• Provide functional and administrative supervisor for staff

Technical Competencies

Qualitative Research

• Knowledge of and ability to gain insights concerning attitudes, beliefs, motivations and behaviors as part of a research study

Quantitative Research

• Knowledge of and the ability to use numerical methods to compile information about a given situation or condition.

Research Analysis

• Knowledge of and the ability to locate, interpret and evaluate research findings compiled and documented by others and use this material to support empirical research.

Research Documentation

• Knowledge of and ability to utilize tools and techniques for producing well-written, meaningful and usable documentation of research findings

Research Ethics/Compliance

• Knowledge of practices, behaviors, applicable laws, rules, and regulations governing proper research conduct; ability to demonstrate ethical and compliant behavior in diverse situations

Research Safety

• Knowledge of the procedures and programs in place in the organization to ensure employee, student and subject safety (occupational safety, fire, patient, animal, drug, radiation, environmental safety and emergency plans); ability to train others; ability to take appropriate actions in case of emergency.

Percent of Time: 100%, 40 hours per week
Schedule:  40 hour week with a 30 minute lunch
Location:  UI Main campus
Pay Grade: 5A
Benefit Highlights:
•    Regular salaried position located in Iowa City, Iowa
•    Fringe benefit package including paid vacation; sick leave; health, dental, life and disability insurance options; and generous employer contributions into retirement plans.  For more information on benefits, please visit:  https://hr.uiowa.edu/benefits/employee-benefits