Job Description

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Please attach a cover letter and a curriculum vitae in the Supporting Documents section of the application.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

The Biomaterials Lab is dedicated to advancing patient health and addressing critical medical challenges through biomaterials research, education, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The lab provides shared research facilities, specialized equipment, technical expertise, and training to students, faculty, staff, and external collaborators to support the fabrication, characterization, and development of biomaterials, medical devices, regenerative medicine technologies, and research prototypes.

The Research Scientist/Lab Manager performs biomaterial fabrication and characterization within the Biomaterials Lab ( https://bml.rice.edu) under the supervision of the Director. These fabrication methods include, but are not limited to, 3D printing, bioprinting, electrospinning, melt-write electrospinning, etc. Biomaterial characterization techniques include, but are not limited to, chromatography (size exclusion and affinity-based), thermal analysis, rheology, micro-computed tomography, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. This position actively participates in research and design, conducts educational and outreach activities (such as a biofabrication workshop and an annual high school student biomaterials bootcamp), and implements and maintains laboratory safety procedures. The position also oversees the day-to-day operation of the laboratory and its users while managing long-term collaborative projects between the laboratory and other research and institutional partners. In addition, this position manages laboratory communications and marketing, including the lab website.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate has experience in several fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing, electrospinning, extrusion-based techniques, experience in several characterization techniques, such as chromatography, thermal, mechanical, and radiographic analysis, and experience in histologic analysis, such as frozen and paraffin-embedded specimens.

Workplace Requirements:

This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at t he Bioscience Research Collaborative (BRC) at Rice University. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Able to lift up to 25 pounds (moving computers and other related equipment).

Annual Hiring Range: This position offers a salary of $63,100 - $80,400, commensurate with education and experience.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in bioengineering/biomedical engineering (biomaterials), chemical engineering (biomaterials), mechanical engineering (biomaterials), or related discipline
• 2+ years of related research experience in materials fabrication and characterizations

Skills:

• Proficient and comprehensive knowledge of information management, knowledge management and publication management
• Possess a logical and independent mind
• Good interpersonal skills such as patience, determination, flexibility, and decisiveness
• Excellent listening, verbal and written communication, analytical, and research skills
• Excellent scientific and numerical skills with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to work in a team environment, to participate actively, to collaborate and to motivate others in the lab

Preferences:

• PhD in a related scientific or engineering field
• Experience in several fabrication techniques, such as 3D printing, electrospinning, extrusion-based techniques, etc.
• Experience in several characterization techniques, such as chromatography, thermal, mechanical, and radiographic analysis, etc.
• Experience in histologic analysis, such as frozen and paraffin-embedded specimens

Essential Functions:

• Manages research projects and related budgets
• Performs scientific research conducting independent experimental studies, facilitating other ongoing research in the laboratory, and developing and validating new protocols, methodologies, and / or theories
• Communicates the results of scientific research through verbal presentations at scientific conferences and written articles submitted for publication
• Actively engages to improve the laboratory’s reputation and set of scientific capabilities
• Seeks new research grants
• Supervises, advises and/or trains students and professional researchers in the lab
• Maintains a harmonious, safe, and efficient work environment by training new laboratory members in the correct use of equipment, ordering necessary supplies as needed, and coordinating routine equipment maintenance
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Ensures progress, compliance with, and support for existing grants
• Performs inventory, sets up and maintains scientific experiments and equipment,
• Maintains and distributes records of research results as appropriate and provides guidance in experimental design and analysis
• Engages in partnerships for educational and outreach work, such as with personnel within local schools and museums
• Negotiates technical aspects of a contract for the purchase of new instrumentation, in supervising the installation of instrumentation, and as necessary, in repairing or upgrading instrumentation

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits
Rice Mission and Values Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.