Research Associate I, II, III, or Senior

Mississippi State University; Starkville, Northern (MS, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University in Starkville is seeking a Research Associate to lead the Athlete Engineering Institute's human performance laboratory, planning data collection across populations and ensuring readiness of sensing systems. You will mentor a cross-disciplinary team and translate laboratory work into sponsored deliverables.

The role collaborates with faculty and the Institute Director to support protocols, datasets, prototypes, and reporting for funded projects.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, kinesiology/exercise science, biomedical, or related field.
• Bachelor’s level can start at Research/Extension Associate I; Associate II requires 3 years relevant experience or Master’s equivalent; Associate III requires 6 years or Master’s degree.
• With a Master’s degree, Associate II requires 1 year relevant experience; Associate III requires 3 years; Senior Associate requires 6 years.
• Doctoral degree holders may start at Associate III with 2 years relevant experience; Senior Associate requires 3 years.

Responsibilities

• Lead lab operations: organize, inventory, maintain equipment, ensure readiness across active projects.
• Plan and execute data collection sessions; train personnel and student workers on equipment and protocols.
• Mentor students from diverse backgrounds and coordinate research and prototype work.
• Facilitate prototype design and iteration with students and faculty.
• Coordinate with IT/HPC on data pipelines, storage, and infrastructure.
• Support workforce-preservation activities (human factors, physiology, hydration/heat-illness, occupational health) for funded programs.
• Support reporting, data aggregation, and metrics/dashboarding for sponsored projects.

Job description

Position Function:

The Research Associate serves as the day-to-day technical and operational lead for the Athlete Engineering Institute's human performance laboratory. This position plans and executes biomechanical and physiological data collection across sport, tactical, occupational, and industrial populations; maintains readiness of motion capture, force plate, and wearable sensing systems; and mentors a cross-disciplinary team of student researchers spanning engineering, kinesiology, and other related disciplines. Working under the direction of the Institute Director and alongside faculty, the incumbent translates laboratory capability into sponsored-project deliverables, which can include protocols, processed datasets, prototypes, and reporting.

Salary Grade

13

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges. For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The mission of athlete engineering is to align researchers from all engineering disciplines, as well as kinesiology, sociology, and psychology researchers, with athletic practitioners such as strength and conditioning coaches, athletic trainers, and nutritionists, to enhance student-athlete safety and link human factors to performance technology.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead lab operations: organization, equipment inventory and maintenance, and readiness across active projects.
• Plan and execute data collection sessions; train personnel and student workers on lab equipment and protocols.
• Mentor and coordinate students from broad disciplinary backgrounds (engineering, kinesiology, fashion/textile design) in research and prototype work.
• Facilitate prototype design and iteration in collaboration with student workers and faculty.
• Coordinate with IT/HPC on data pipelines, storage, and infrastructure.
• Contribute to workforce-preservation activities (human factors, physiology, hydration/heat-illness, occupational health) supporting funded program objectives.
• Support reporting, data aggregation, and metrics/dashboarding for sponsored projects.

Minimum Qualifications

Grade and salary will be commensurate with individual’s background, education and experience.

Beginning with a bachelor’s degree:

A professional employee with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, computer science, kinesiology/exercise science, biomedical, or related field and demonstrated competence can begin work at the Research/Extension Associate I level.

To begin at the Research/Extension Associate II level, one must have a bachelor’s degree in the required discipline and a minimum of three years relevant experience and the equivalent of a master’s degree.

To begin at the Research/Extension Associate III level, one must have a bachelor’s degree in the required discipline and a minimum of six years relevant experience and the equivalent of the master’s degree.

Beginning with a master’s degree:

A professional employee with a master’s degree in engineering, computer science, kinesiology/exercise science, biomedical, or related field, one year of relevant experience and demonstrated competence can begin work at the Research/Extension Associate II level.

To begin at the Research/Extension Associate III level, one must have a master’s degree in the required discipline and a minimum of three years relevant experience and the equivalent of a master’s degree.

To begin at the Senior Research/Extension Associate level, one must have a master’s degree in the required discipline and a minimum of six years relevant experience.

Beginning with a doctoral degree:

A professional employee with a doctoral degree in engineering, computer science, kinesiology/exercise science, biomedical, or related field with two years of relevant experience and demonstrated competence can begin work at the Research/Extension Associate III level.

To begin at the Senior Research/Extension Associate level, one must have a doctoral degree in the required discipline and a minimum of three years relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to work across engineering and kinesiology-based disciplines: e.g., applying signal processing or sensor integration to physiological/biomechanical questions, or vice versa.
• Evidence of self-directed cross-disciplinary learning — a project, publication, or role that bridged two fields outside the candidate's primary training.
• Experience mentoring or supervising students from varied backgrounds (engineering, kinesiology, design).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Has established scientific expertise; knows and effectively uses the fundamental concepts, practices, and procedures in human performance and human factors.
2. Ability to organize, interpret data, and derive study conclusions.
3. Ability to advance state-of-the-art scientific research in fields of human performance and human factors.
4. Ability to apply extensive and advanced principles, theories, and concepts.
5. Ability to contribute to the development of solutions to complex problems that require innovation and ingenuity.
6. Project management skills; excellent communication and presentation skills.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Occasional and/or light lifting required up to 10 pounds. Limited exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, etc.; none to the degree of being disagreeable. Frequent standing, walking, climbing or balancing required. Routine deadlines, variance in work volume predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressure from persons other than immediate supervisor. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically, ability to distinguish colors.

Restricted Clause

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, [phone].

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and wouldlike to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi StateUniversity, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: [phone] or [e-mail].

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human ResourcesManagement at [phone] or [e-mail]. Upon request, sections of thisjob listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.