Research Area Specialist Senior

Mission Statement

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally. Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

• Manages all phases of a large, complex research project with the principal investigator (PI) Dr. Burness. Works directly with Dr. Burness on the development and the implementation of the research plan and development of research goals. Conduct research experiments independently, including planning, executing, troubleshooting, and documenting experimental procedures in alignment with project goals.
• Meet regularly with the PI, including weekly meetings, to review progress, discuss results, receive guidance, and set research priorities. Coordinate and manage day-to-day research activities within the laboratory or research program, including organizing experiments, maintaining workflows, and ensuring timely completion of project objectives.
• Analyze, interpret, and summarize research data, including preparing figures, tables, reports, and other materials to support presentations, manuscripts, and grant applications. Develop, evaluate, and refine research methodologies, including recommending modifications to experimental approaches, protocols, or analytical techniques.
• Lead manuscript preparation, including drafting, revising, and coordinating scholarly publications in collaboration with Dr. Burness and other research team members. Expected to co-author research publications. May write independent articles and make formal presentations with or without the PI.
• Assist with grant proposal development, including contributing to writing, data preparation, project descriptions, budgets or budget justifications as appropriate, and other supporting materials in collaboration with Dr. Burness. Expected to write significant portions of research proposals.
• Supervise and mentor students, including training in laboratory techniques, equipment use, experimental protocols, data collection, and research best practices.
• Train laboratory users in equipment operation and research techniques, explaining equipment capabilities, limits, proper use, and expected outcomes.
• Maintain accurate laboratory records and documentation, including experimental protocols, data files, safety materials, compliance documentation, and records needed for inspections or reporting.
• Support laboratory safety and compliance, ensuring that research activities are conducted in accordance with applicable safety procedures, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as a research liaison as needed, communicating with collaborators, other departments, programs, agencies, or organizations to acquire data, share information, and advance research objectives.
• Other duties as assigned

• Bachelor's degree
• 5-6 years of related experience, i.e., published in a field of specialty and academic knowledge in a field or discipline.

• Masters Degree preferred.
• Professional/doctoral degree (MD, PhD, or equivalent)
• Experience authoring or co-authoring publications and presenting findings at meetings and conferences
• Understanding and utilization of tumor response evaluation criteria, including but not limited to RECIST, irRECIST, Choi, WHO, Cheson/Lugano, PCWG, RANO, PERCIST, and customized versions of these established criteria

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site…