Research Fellow

Steadman Philippon Research Institute; Vail (CO); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Colorado's Vail area is seeking a Research Fellow for the Biomedical Engineering Department. The role covers literature reviews, study design with bioengineers and orthopedic surgeons, and grant preparation as projects move from concept to execution.

Responsibilities include cadaver dissection, coordinating testing days, data interpretation, manuscript writing, and presenting results at leading orthopedic conferences.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of medical school (or equivalent anatomical and surgical knowledge).
• Experience with cadaver dissection required.
• Prior Research Experience – Preferably in orthopedics.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Excellent written English

Responsibilities

• Conduct literature reviews to identify unanswered clinical questions.
• Participate in team meetings to design studies and assist with submitting project grants.
• Prepare and dissect specimens with orthopedic surgeons and biomedical engineers during testing.
• Assist with data interpretation, manuscript writing, and submission to top-tier orthopedic conferences and journals.
• Assist with project logistics: scheduling test days, acquiring specimens, and managing surgical equipment inventory.
• Shadow attending surgeons in the operating room and collaborate with Imaging, Regenerative Medicine, and Clinical Outcomes departments.

Education

Medical school education / anatomy knowledge

Cadaver dissection experience

Orthopedics research exposure

Job description

Description

The Biomedical Engineering Department (BME) lab develops and tests new orthopedic surgeries in cadaveric specimens and evaluates their efficacy using state-of-the-art robotic manipulation and sensors. As a research fellow in the orthopedic robotics/biomechanics lab, the employee will play an integral role in projects from initiation to completion. In the study design phase, the employee will conduct literature reviews to identify unanswered clinical questions, participate in team meetings (with bioengineers and orthopedic surgeons) to design studies and assist with submitting project grants for funding. In the testing phase, the employee will work with orthopedic surgeons to prepare and dissect specimens, and with biomedical engineers to conduct testing. After testing, the employee will help interpret data, write manuscripts, and submit to top‑tier orthopedic conferences and journals. Research fellows may also assist with project logistics, such as scheduling test days, acquiring specimens that meet inclusion criteria and managing surgical equipment inventory to ensure we have everything we need for testing days. The employee may be working on multiple projects at once, so time management is an essential skill. In addition to work within the BME department, research fellows are encouraged to shadow the attending surgeons in the operating room and assist clinical fellows in the surgical skills lab. There are also opportunities for collaboration with the Imaging, Regenerative Medicine, and Clinical Outcomes departments.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of medical school (or equivalent anatomical and surgical knowledge)
• Experience with cadaver dissection required
• Prior Research Experience – Preferably in orthopedics
• Excellent interpersonal communication and organizational skills
• Excellent written English