Research Specialist at Rice University

DescriptionAbout Rice:Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston Texas Rice University is ranked among the nations 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 Rices 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.About George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing:The George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing ranks among the top 20 undergraduate engineering programs (US News & World Report) and is strongly committed to nurturing the aspirations of faculty staff and students in an inclusive environment.We seek greater representation of women minorities people with disabilities and veterans in disciplines in which they have historically been underrepresented; to attract international students from a wider range of countries and backgrounds; to accelerate progress in building a faculty and staff who are diverse in background and thought and we support an inclusive environment that fosters interaction and understanding within our diverse community.Position Summary:The department of Electrical & Computer Engineering has an open Research Specialist position to work under the direction of Professor Chong Xie. The central mission of Dr. Chong Xies laboratory is to achieve seamless integration between engineered electronic systems and the nervous system advancing our ability to understand interface with and augment living systems. Recently the group has concentrated on creating a scalable tissue-integrated electrical neural interface built from ultra-flexible nanoelectronic threads (NETs) designed to support stable glial-scar-free integration with neural tissue and enable long-term reliable recording.We are seeking a Research Specialist to contribute to several projects involving the design fabrication and testing of ultra-flexible neural electrodes with an emphasis on clinical translation. The role includes supporting ongoing efforts through mechanical design device assembly and prototype testing across multiple R&D initiatives.Ideal Candidate Statement:An ideal candidate would have some prior experience working in a research environment and a foundational understanding of mechanical design 3D printing PCB design and hands-on work using a stereo microscope.Workplace Requirements:This position is exclusively on-site necessitating all duties to be performed in-person at Bioscience Research Collaborative 5 days a week. PerRice policy 440 work arrangements may be subject to change.Hiring Range:$45k-$53000 annually*Exempt (salaried) positions underFLSA are not eligible for overtime.This position is a one-year term-limited positionfunded by a grant soft and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent on the renewal of funding.Minimum Requirements:Bachelors DegreeOne or more (1) years of experience in a research environmentIn lieu of the experience requirement additional related education above and beyond what is required on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substitute.Skills:Listening verbal and written communication analytical and research skillsGood scientific and numerical skills with meticulous attention to details and accuracyAbility to work in a team environment to participate actively to collaborate and to motivate others in the labCritical thinking technical data collection and interviewing skillsStatistical and graphical analysis skillsAbility to maintain quality safety and/or infection control standardsAbility to plan and schedule effectivelyDemonstrated ability to operate complex equipment and follow instructionsAbility to use word processing and spreadsheet software Microsoft Office SuiteGood organization skills and strong attention to detailAbility to conduct basic evaluation and analysis of dataPreferences:Certified Research Administrator (CRA) preferredDegree in Mechanical or Electrical EngineeringExperience with neuroscienceEssential Functions:Assists in neural probe fabrication using established process stepsAssists in the research and development activities related to fabrication including promoting safety and preparing simple reagent mixturesCollects tracks and analyzes data through the use of spreadsheets and databasesCommunicates results through verbal presentations written reports and written articles submitted for publication in conjunction with PIMay assist in the administration of the research projectPrepares procurement requests and orders materials and supplies manages sample and stock database sets up and manages experiments and maintains research results for publicationsPerforms all other duties as assignedAdditional FunctionsAssists with device testing in animal modelsConducts experiments related to probe characterizationRice University HR Benefits: Mission and Values:Mission and Values Rice UniversityRice 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 contact Rice Universitys Disability Resource Center at or for support.If you have any additional questions please email us at. Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.Required Experience:IC Key Skills Laboratory Experience,Spss,Data Collection,Genetics,R,Research Experience,Statistical Software,Cell Culture,Molecular Biology,Microscopy,Research Laboratory Experience,Western Blot Employment Type : Full-Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1 Yearly Salary Salary: 45 - 53000