Research Scientist - QUARC - Department of Biomechanics

Overview

UNO is Nebraska's public metropolitan research university – a university with strong academic values, diverse programs and learning opportunities, and significant relationships with our community that facilitate engaged teaching and research.

Research Scientist - QUARC
- Department of Biomechanics

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

EEO Statement

The University of Nebraska does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its education programs or activities, including admissions and employment. The University prohibits any form of retaliation taken against anyone for reporting discrimination, harassment, or retaliation for otherwise engaging in protected activity.

Job

Title

Research Scientist - QUARC
- Department of Biomechanics

Job Grade

RA24S

Division

Academic Affairs

College/Dept

College of Education, Health and Human Sciences

Department

Biomechanics

Requisition Number

FTE (full-time equivalency)

1.0

Work Schedule

M-F, 8-5

Appointment Term

12-12/12 months

Is this position essential personnel according to the inclement weather policy?

No

Pay Information

$65,000

Pay Schedule

Annually

FLSA Designation

Exempt

Position Summary

This position is necessary to:

• Sustain day-to-day analytical operations of QUARC, including data processing, method development, and statistical support for funded projects.
• Provide expertise in specialized quantitative and AI/ML methods (e.g., recurrence quantification analysis, fractal and complexity analyses, symbolic regression, deep learning, Bayesian modeling) that are central to the Core’s service portfolio.
• Assist faculty and graduate student investigators with study design, data collection oversight, and manuscript preparation.
• Support the development and maintenance of open-source software tools (e.g., R packages, MATLAB routines, Python libraries) associated with QUARC’s methodological contributions.
• Contribute to grant preparation and reporting for Core-affiliated projects.
• Develop and apply AI/ML pipelines for analysis of large-scale movement, physiological, and behavioral datasets.

Job Duties Quantitative Data Analysis

Perform advanced nonlinear and statistical analyses of human movement, physiological, and behavioral time series data. Methods include but are not limited to:
Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA), Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), Sample Entropy, Lyapunov Exponent estimation, Symbolic Regression, fractal analysis, and Bayesian multilevel modeling.

AI/ML Pipeline Development and Application

Design, implement, and evaluate machine learning and deep learning models applied to movement, sensor, and physiological data. Applications may include classification, regression, anomaly detection, foundation model fine‑tuning, and AI‑assisted discovery of governing equations of motion.

Methods Development and Software Support

Develop, test, and maintain computational tools and pipelines in R, MATLAB, and/or Python for Core users. Contribute to open‑source packages and reproducible research workflows.

Research Collaboration and Consultation

Consult with faculty and student investigators on study design, data collection protocols, and appropriate analytical methods. Attend project meetings and contribute to team science efforts across QUARC‑affiliated grants.

Manuscript and Grant Support

Assist with writing and editing manuscripts for peer‑reviewed publication. Contribute analytical sections, figures, and methods descriptions to grant proposals and progress reports.

Required Education

PhD in Biomechanics, Biomedical Engineering, Computational Neuroscience, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field. ABD (All But Dissertation) candidates will be considered; degree must be completed within six months of hire.

Required Experience

Minimum 2 years of research experience (graduate or postgraduate) involving quantitative analysis of human movement, physiological, or sensor‑based time series data.

Required Additional Qualifications Technical Skills

• Demonstrated proficiency in R, MATLAB, and/…