Research Associate - Specimen Preparation & Imaging Support

vVardis AG; Michigan; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

vVARDIS, a Swiss-based oral health company with a Michigan lab, seeks a Research Associate to join a small, hands-on R&D team in Plymouth. You will support in-house remineralization testing and biomaterials characterization, reporting to the Lab Director.

You will prepare reagents, section and mount specimens, operate MicroCT, and help translate proprietary technology from concept to reality while collaborating with University of Michigan facilities.

Qualifications

• B.S./M.S. in materials science, chemistry, biomedical engineering or related field.
• 3+ years hands-on laboratory experience.
• Willingness to train to independent MicroCT user.

Responsibilities

• Perform in vitro remineralization testing on enamel and dentin under established protocols.
• Prepare reagents and solutions following SOPs to ensure reproducibility.
• Prepare hard-tissue and material specimens for imaging-ready quality.
• Train on and operate MicroCT: mounting, setup, reconstruction and first-pass analysis.
• Maintain and calibrate lab instruments; assist with advanced characterization (SEM/EDS).
• Collect, document and summarize data; support internal R&D reporting.
• Contribute to lab safety, SDS management and clean, compliant workspace.

Skills

Hands-on lab experience

Metallographic specimen prep

Hard tissue handling

Standardized testing

Technical report writing

Independent & collaborative work

Education

B.S. or M.S. in materials science, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or related field

Tools

MicroCT operation

SEM

EDS

Image analysis software (Dragonfly, ImageJ/Fiji, Avizo)

Spectroscopy (FTIR, Raman)

Job description

vVARDIS is a Swiss-based oral health company founded by Dr. Haley and Dr. Goly Abivardi, dentists, innovators, and award-winning entrepreneurs. vVARDIS is the result of a combined 30 years of dental and entrepreneurial experience, and 20 years of laboratory and clinical research paired with the creative vision of its founders. At vVARDIS, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions that enhance oral health and well-being, inspired by the vision of our founders to foster preventive rather than reparative dentistry. Scientifically proven in over 200 publications, our unique technology can treat early caries, offering a noninvasive, pain-free solution for patients of all ages. We offer a number of oral health products targeting dental professionals and their patients, as well as consumers, all based on our proprietary technology. We value our people and believe in fostering a positive and collaborative work environment, based on our core values of innovation, excellence, integrity, and empathy. We are located in Zug, Switzerland, with operations in Europe and the U.S. Join us on this exciting journey!

About the role

As a Research Associate in our Michigan dental materials laboratory, you will be a core member of a small, hands-on R&D team. This newly established lab provides in-house in vitro remineralization testing and biomaterials characterization. Reporting to the Lab Director, you will prepare reagents and tooth specimens, run tests under established protocols, prepare imaging-ready specimens, and operate and maintain laboratory instruments, assisting with advanced characterization on shared instrumentation at the University of Michigan campus and on site at our lab in Plymouth, Michigan.

You will become the lab's most reliable pair of hands for sectioning, embedding, grinding, polishing, and mounting mineralized specimens, and you will be trained to run our in-house micro-CT — scan setup, reconstruction, and first-pass analysis — as a core part of the job.

You will work within a small team environment helping translate vVARDIS's proprietary peptide and remineralization technology from concept to reality.

Responsibilities

• Perform in vitro remineralization testing on enamel and dentin under established protocols, including setting up controlled demineralization/remineralization challenges and mineral-uptake, surface, and cross-sectional measurements.
• Prepare reagents and solutions (artificial saliva, demineralizing and remineralizing solutions) and follow standard operating procedures accurately, ensuring reproducibility.
• Prepare hard-tissue and material specimens to imaging-ready quality — sectioning, embedding in resin, mounting, grinding, and polishing — to a consistent, documented standard.
• Train on and then routinely operate MicroCT: specimen mounting, scan setup and parameter selection, reconstruction, and first-pass segmentation and measurement, with support from the scientific staff.
• Operate and maintain laboratory instruments and assist with — and, once trained, independently perform — advanced characterization (e.g., SEM, EDS, MicroCT) on shared instrumentation at the University of Michigan campus.
• Carry out routine data collection and recording, organize and document results, maintain specimen and scan inventories, and support data summaries for internal R&D and the parent-company team.
• Contribute to laboratory quality and safety, including SDS and chemical management, instrument upkeep, and maintaining a clean, organized, and compliant work area.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in materials science, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or a related field, and 3+ years of relevant hands-on work experience in a laboratory environment. (Strong candidates with less experience but exceptional specimen-preparation skill are encouraged to apply.)
• Demonstrated hands-on specimen preparation — sectioning, mounting, grinding, and polishing — of hard, brittle, or heterogeneous materials.
• Willingness and enthusiasm to be trained to independent-user level on MicroCT and on shared-facility instrumentation.

Required Skills

• Hands-on experience in an experimental laboratory setting, with rigorous attention to protocol, reproducibility, and safety.
• Metallographic specimen preparation (sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing).
• Experience with hard-tissue or comparably delicate specimen handling.
• Familiarity with standardized testing and quality control methods.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including scientific report writing.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small, multidisciplinary team.

Preferred Skills

• Any prior exposure to MicroCT or other X-ray imaging — scanning, reconstruction, or image analysis.
• SEM and EDS operation; sputter coating and low-vacuum imaging of non-conductive or biological specimens.
• Resin embedding, cross-sectioning, and polishing protocols for mineralized tissue (enamel, dentin, bone).
• Image analysis software (Dragonfly, ImageJ/Fiji, Avizo, or similar).
• Spectroscopy background knowledge (FTIR, Raman).
• Basic scripting or data handling (Python, R, or advanced spreadsheet work).
• Experience supporting work at a shared or core instrumentation facility.

Equal Opportunity Statement

vVARDIS is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.