Research Lab Specialist Inter

Who We Are

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement - enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

Become a key contributor to groundbreaking mobility and wearable robotics research by joining the Locomotor Control Systems Laboratory (Locolab) as a Research Laboratory Specialist. In this pivotal role, you will report directly to the Principal Investigator, Dr. Robert Gregg, and bridge laboratory administration with active clinical research to advance the design, control, and testing of robotic prostheses and exoskeletons. In this role, you will lead proactive participant recruitment and study execution for clinical trials, oversee laboratory equipment and infrastructure, and manage crucial regulatory compliance including IRB and EHS protocols.

Beyond daily operations, you will serve as a central organizational anchor and mentor within the lab-training student researchers on equipment usage, streamlining project workflows, and supporting grant proposals and publication efforts. This position offers a dynamic opportunity for an organized, proactive professional looking to drive impactful human-subjects research in a collaborative, cutting‑edge engineering environment.

• Regulatory Oversight:
  Manage, draft, and maintain Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocols.
• Registry Maintenance:
  Oversee and update clinical trials.gov study registrations.
• Safety Compliance:
  Conduct regular Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) self-inspections to maintain laboratory safety standards.
• Equipment & Vendor Relations:
  Manage the upkeep and functioning of core data acquisition equipment; liaise with equipment manufacturers for preventative maintenance, calibration, software updates, and repairs.
• SOP Development:
  Draft and update Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for clinical procedures and core equipment usage.
• IT & Asset Management:
  Oversee and manage laboratory computer and network assets, including the PC fleet, lab network drive, lab Dropbox, and lab Data Den archive.
• Inventory Control:
  Oversee the organization and procurement of shared laboratory supplies.

• Participant Recruitment:
  Develop and execute proactive, creative strategies to successfully recruit and screen study participants.
• Study Execution:
  Administer and guide participants through required study procedures in accordance with clinical protocols.
• Data Management:
  Perform data post-processing, organization, and analysis following data collection.
• Publication Support:
  Assist in drafting, editing, and formatting manuscripts for related clinical studies.

• Project Management:
  Assist the PI in managing project tasks, milestones, and timelines to keep research goals on track; proactively gather necessary task inputs in alignment with the PI's preferred level of project specificity.
• Grant Support:
  Assist in the preparation, formatting, and submission of grant proposals.
• Onboarding & Offboarding:
  Manage logistics for new and departing lab members, including keycard access setup, verifying mandatory EHS/IRB training compliance, and coordinating final data handoffs.
• Administrative Tracking:
  Monitor high-level administrative workflows (e.g., regulatory reports, renewals, continuing reviews) and provide timely reminders to the PI to ensure deadlines are met.
• Student Training & Mentorship:
  Train students on the responsible, safe, and effective use of lab equipment while maintaining an approachable, supportive presence to guide them through their individual research projects.

Education and Experience: Master's degree and 4 to 5 years related experience. Supervisory experience preferred. Employees in this classification are required to have a minimum of a Bachelor's degree in a recognized field of science or learning which is directly related to the duties of the position.

Research

Skills:

Coursework or hands-on experience using data acquisition equipment, sensors, or movement/biomechanics measurement tools. Familiarity with prosthetics and orthotics.

Technical

Skills:

Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, and C coding; signal processing and filtering; CAD software for mechanical design and 3D printing; AI tools including Claude, Codex, or Cursor.

Human Subjects & Safety: Basic understanding of human subjects research protocols, basic lab safety guidelines, and data confidentiality standards.

Operational & IT

Skills:

Familiarity with basic IT asset care, file management systems, and shared storage (e.g., cloud…