Research Specialist

Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 63,000 - 103,000; Full time

Job summary

Massachusetts General Hospital's Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging is seeking a full-time Research Specialist to support the LINC project. You will collect and analyze ex vivo MRI and optical microscopy images, contribute to publications, and work under the supervision of Dr.

Anastasia Yendiki in a fast-paced neuroimaging environment. Responsibilities include developing acquisition protocols, planning data collection to meet project milestones, handling post mortem brain

Qualifications

• Master's degree in engineering, applied math, computer science, or related field.
• 3–5 years of recent biomedical imaging research experience.
• Strong data analysis and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop tissue processing and data acquisition protocols for MRI and/or optical microscopy.
• Plan, monitor, and revise data acquisition schedules with the PI.
• Handle and prepare post mortem brain samples for imaging.
• Write and troubleshoot code for imaging data analysis and visualization.
• Assist with lab documentation, software repositories, and data archives.

Skills

Strong mathematical skills

Proficient in data analysis

Computer literacy for data processing

Ability to work in team

Education

Master's Degree in related field

Tools

MRI

Optical microscopy

Python

Job description

Site: The General Hospital CorporationMass General Brigham relies on a wide range of professionals, including doctors, nurses, business people, tech experts, researchers, and systems analysts to advance our mission. As a not-for-profit, we support patient care, research, teaching, and community service, striving to provide exceptional care. We believe that high-performing teams drive groundbreaking medical discoveries and invite all applicants to join us and experience what it means to be part of Mass General Brigham.Job SummarySummaryA full-time Research Specialist position is available at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, under the supervision of Dr. Anastasia Yendiki. The Research Specialist will join the investigative team of the Large-Scale Imaging of Neural Circuits (LINC) project, and as such contribute to an unprecedented effort by the NIH BRAIN Initiative to produce first-ever maps of brain connections across scales (https://www.ninds.nih.gov/news-events/highlights-announcements/nih-brain-initiative-launches-projects-develop-innovative-technologies-map-brain-incredible-detail).The LINC project brings together a multi-disciplinary group of experts from 9 institutions (Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Duke University, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, University College London, University of Rochester, Weill Cornell Medicine) to develop novel imaging technologies and combine them with machine learning to produce detailed wiring diagrams of the brain (https://connects.mgh.harvard.edu).The Research Specialist will contribute to this effort by collecting and analyzing ex vivo MRI and optical microscopy images. The position offers the opportunity to participate in publications and to be part of a fast-paced research environment at the cutting edge of neuroimaging method development.Functioning independently and under the direction of the principal investigator, performs high-level, complex scientific research experiments. On a regular basis, contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals, and presentations, and investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement.Essential Functions-Investigates, creates, and develops new methods and technologies for research advancement.-Contributes to scientific literature, reports, journals and presentations.-Develops proposals and study plans, and coordinates the institutional and external reviews of these proposals.-Responsible for supervising routine reports of laboratory studies, particularly as stipulated in material transfer agreements or corporate-sponsored research agreements, to be distributed to industry scientific counterparts and academic collaborators.-Reports on the progress of work at weekly laboratory seminars. Semi-autonomously writes up experimental work for grant applications, book chapters, and journal publications.-Responsible for preparing summaries of laboratory studies for meeting presentations and publications.-Calculates, transcribes, analyzes, and prepares figures of data using advanced statistical techniques.-Semi-autonomously identifies, interprets, and applies findings and methods from scientific literature relevant to projects.QualificationsEducationMaster's Degree Related Field of Study requiredCan this role accept experience in lieu of a degree?NoLicenses and CredentialsExperienceExperience in an academic or laboratory research setting 3-5 years requiredKnowledge, Skills and Abilities- Must be a problem solver willing to take the initiative and prioritize tasks, thereby ensuring the smooth and efficient conduct of several projects simultaneously.- A high degree of computer literacy in order to use various spreadsheet, database, accounting and word processing programs to assist in administrative, grant proposal preparation, and research reporting activities.- Excellent organizational skills in order to formulate, implement, and monitor a number of interrelated tasks.- Ability to exercise discretion and good judgment in handling of sensitive and confidential information.- Ability to work under deadline pressure and prioritize work from several sources.- Excellent interpersonal skills for internal and external communications.Additional Job Details (if applicable)Role specific duties:Develop tissue processing and data acquisition protocols for MRI and/or optical microscopyPlan, monitor, and revise data acquisition schedules to meet the milestones of the project, in close coordination with the Principal InvestigatorHandle and prepare post mortem brain samples for imagingPerform and troubleshoot MRI and/or optical microscopy scans of post mortem brain samplesMonitor the performance of imaging equipment and communicate with manufacturers as needed to schedule maintenanceWrite, test, and troubleshoot computer code for the analysis and visualization of the imaging dataAssist with quality assurance, pre-processing, and annotation of imaging dataAssist with maintaining lab documentation, software repositories, and data archivesAssist with compiling research publications, proposals, and progress reportsOnboard and train new research staff on data acquisition, management, and analysisRole specific skills:Strong mathematical skills, as evidenced by relevant coursework. The ideal candidate will have a degree in engineering, applied math, computer science, or related field, and a demonstrated interest in neuroscience and imaging.Excellent organizational skills, oral and written communication skills.High comfort level with computers.Ability to work independently as well as within an integrated research team.Ability to prioritize multiple tasks and handle fluctuating priorities and deadlines.A high degree of professionalism and attention to detail.Role specific experience:3-5 years of prior professional experience in a biomedical imaging research lab setting, performing both data acquisition and analysis. Prior experience in MRI or optical imaging.Supervisory responsibility:The Research Specialist may supervise up to 4 team members at any given time, including junior technicians or internsWorking conditions:The position involves working in MRI or optical imaging facilities with fixed post mortem brains, as well as working in a computer lab. Flexibility to perform or monitor data acquisition on evenings or weekends, depending on scheduling constraints of the respective imaging facilities, is required.Remote TypeOnsiteWork Location149 Thirteenth Street Building 149Scheduled Weekly Hours40Employee TypeRegularWork ShiftDay (United States of America)Pay Range$63,252.80 - $102,596.00/AnnualGrade7At Mass General Brigham, we believe in recognizing and rewarding the unique value each team member brings to our organization. Our approach to determining base pay is comprehensive, and any offer extended will take into account your skills, relevant experience if applicable, education, certifications and other essential factors. The base pay information provided offers an estimate based on the minimum job qualifications; however, it does not encompass all elements contributing to your total compensation package. In addition to competitive base pay, we offer comprehensive benefits, career advancement opportunities, differentials, premiums and bonuses as applicable and recognition programs designed to celebrate your contributions and support your professional growth. We invite you to apply, and our Talent Acquisition team will provide an overview of your potential compensation and benefits package.EEO Statement:1200 The General Hospital Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. To ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Veteran’s Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact Human Resources at (857)-282-7642.Mass General Brigham Competency FrameworkAt Mass General Brigham, our competency framework defines what effective leadership “looks like” by specifying which behaviors are most critical for successful performance at each job level. The framework is comprised of ten competencies (half People-Focused, half Performance-Focused) and are defined by observable and measurable skills and behaviors that contribute to workplace effectiveness and career success. These competencies are used to evaluate performance, make hiring decisions, identify development needs, mobilize employees across our system, and establish a strong talent pipeline.