Staff Scientist

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago invites applications for a Staff Scientist in the Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery. The role leads translational research, develops preclinical models, analyzes human biospecimens, and collaborates across departments to drive surgical innovation.

The position emphasizes scientific leadership, grant development, and high-impact scholarship, with an at-will status funded by external grants. 40 hours weekly, on-site in Chicago.

Qualifications

• PhD required in a related field.
• 2-5 years of related work experience.
• Experience with regulatory and biosafety requirements.

Responsibilities

• Design, lead, and execute translational research projects focused on foregut disease and esophageal physiology.
• Develop and optimize preclinical animal models.
• Perform mechanistic lab studies using human tissue and biospecimens.
• Lead prospective clinical research studies evaluating esophageal physiology and surgical techniques.
• Prepare manuscripts, grants, and presentations.

Skills

Scientific leadership

Mentoring

Data analysis

Education

PhD in biomedical sciences

Tools

Preclinical animal models

Histology

Molecular biology

Job description

About The Department

Department

BSD SUR - Minimally Invasive Surgery

About The Department

The Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery at the University of Chicago is an internationally recognized academic surgical program focused on advancing the care of patients with foregut and esophageal disorders, abdominal wall reconstruction, bariatric surgery, and surgical innovation. Our multidisciplinary research program integrates translational laboratory investigation, preclinical surgical models, human tissue analysis, prospective clinical research, and collaborative engineering approaches to better understand disease mechanisms and improve surgical care.

Job Summary

The Staff Scientist will serve as the scientific lead for a diverse portfolio of translational surgical research. Research activities include mechanistic laboratory investigations, development and execution of preclinical animal models, analysis of human tissue specimens and biospecimens, prospective clinical studies evaluating esophageal physiology and novel diagnostic technologies, surgical innovation, and collaborative research across Surgery, Gastroenterology, Engineering, and other scientific disciplines. The successful candidate will contribute to building sustainable research infrastructure through scientific leadership, mentorship, grant development, and high-impact scholarly productivity.

This at-will position is wholly or partially funded by contractual grant funding which is renewed under provisions set by the grantor of the contract. Employment will be contingent upon the continued receipt of these grant funds and satisfactory job performance.

Responsibilities

• Design, lead, and execute translational research projects focused on foregut disease, esophageal physiology, tissue remodeling, wound healing, surgical innovation, and related gastrointestinal diseases.
• Develop, optimize, and perform preclinical animal models, including large animal surgical models, to investigate disease mechanisms and evaluate novel surgical therapies.
• Design and perform mechanistic laboratory studies using human tissue specimens, biospecimens, molecular biology techniques, histology, immunohistochemistry, microscopy, and other translational laboratory methods.
• Analyze existing tissue repositories and prospectively collected biospecimens to investigate disease mechanisms, tissue remodeling, and translational biomarkers.
• Lead and support prospective clinical research studies evaluating esophageal physiology, reflux diagnostics, novel surgical techniques, medical devices, and patient outcomes.
• Coordinate translational studies integrating clinical data, physiologic testing, imaging, biospecimen collection, and laboratory analyses.
• Collaborate with faculty, research coordinators, engineers, statisticians, and basic scientists on multidisciplinary research initiatives.
• Analyze experimental and clinical datasets using appropriate statistical methods and assist with interpretation of research findings.
• Collaborate on engineering and computational research initiatives involving quantitative image analysis, computational modeling, and artificial intelligence applications when appropriate.
• Prepare manuscripts, abstracts, grant applications, scientific presentations, regulatory submissions, and sponsor progress reports.
• Assist in developing investigator-initiated, foundation, federal, and industry-sponsored research programs.
• Ensure compliance with institutional, IRB, IACUC, biosafety, sponsor, and federal research requirements.
• Develop laboratory protocols, standard operating procedures, and quality assurance processes.
• Assist with establishment and maintenance of laboratory infrastructure, tissue repositories, databases, and research resources.
• Mentor medical students, graduate students, residents, fellows, research staff, and visiting investigators in laboratory, translational, and clinical research methodology.
• Present research findings at institutional, national, and international scientific meetings.
• Contribute to the strategic growth and long-term scientific direction of the Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery.
• Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis. Contributes to facilitating and promoting a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.
• Reviews laboratory protocols and training on new techniques. Manage complex data sets for research.
• Leads the contributions to scientific writing and publications, including protocols and grants.
• Trains new laboratory personnel.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Education

Minimum Qualifications

Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• PhD in biomedical sciences, physiology, immunology, molecular biology, bioengineering, pharmacology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Postdoctoral training in translational biomedical research, surgical research, cancer biology, immunology, physiology, or a related field.

Experience

• Demonstrated experience conducting independent translational biomedical research.
• Experience designing, executing, and troubleshooting laboratory experiments.
• Experience with scientific writing, manuscript preparation, and presentation of research findings.
• Experience developing and performing preclinical animal models, including survival surgery and animal surgical models.
• Experience with human tissue procurement, tissue processing, biospecimen management, histology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, molecular biology, flow cytometry, microscopy, cell culture, and related laboratory techniques.
• Experience integrating laboratory investigations with prospective clinical research studies.
• Experience coordinating translational research involving biospecimen collection, physiologic testing, imaging, and clinical databases.
• Experience designing investigator-initiated studies and contributing to industry-sponsored and federally funded research.
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications and successful grant or fellowship writing.
• Experience mentoring medical students, graduate students, residents, fellows, and research staff.
• Experience establishing collaborations across basic science, engineering, and clinical departments.

Licenses And Certifications

• Good Clinical Practice (GCP) training.
• Institutional Review Board (IRB) training.
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) training.
• Laboratory biosafety certification, as appropriate.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong scientific reasoning and experimental design skills.
• Knowledge of molecular biology and tissue-based laboratory techniques.
• Ability to independently develop and execute complex research studies.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent projects.
• Ability to collaborate effectively across clinical, engineering, computational, and basic science disciplines.
• Demonstrated mentorship and leadership skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Commitment to scientific rigor, reproducibility, and regulatory compliance.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$70,000.00 - $90,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University's good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.