Research Specialist D

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Posted Job Title

Research Specialist D

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist D

Job Description Summary

The Breast Cancer Translational Research Group seeks a Research Specialist D to lead our translational research program involving bench to bedside investigations. This scientist will serve as the Laboratory Manager and Quantitative Imaging Lead. They will independently design experiments, analyze and interpret data, and write scientific manuscripts while overseeing daily laboratory operations and mentoring all laboratory personnel.

A major component of this position is hands-on quantitative analysis of small-animal imaging studies evaluating novel radiotracers, including image processing, kinetic modeling, and longitudinal assessment of treatment response. The individual will manage large research datasets, perform statistical analyses, and develop reproducible computational workflows. They must be able to interact with the EHR. Working directly with the principal investigator, this person will coordinate research activities across the laboratory and meet weekly with each laboratory member to review raw data, assess progress, troubleshoot problems, and establish next steps.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• •Independent Experimental Design and Scientific Writing
• •Independently develop experimental designs and detailed study protocols, including hypotheses, appropriate controls, quantitative endpoints, and analysis plans for animal imaging, radiotracer characterization, and translational breast cancer studies.
• •Independently analyze and interpret experimental findings, select and validate analytical methods, evaluate statistical and biological significance, and design follow-up experiments.
• •Independently prepare complete scientific manuscript drafts, including methods, results, discussion, figures, and tables; coordinate coauthor input and prepare revisions and responses to peer reviewers.
• •Prepare abstracts, presentations, and research summaries, and contribute scientific content and preliminary data to grant applications and progress reports.

• •Animal Image Analysis, Radiotracer Kinetics, and Computational Modeling
• •Lead quantitative analysis of static and dynamic small-animal PET and PET/CT studies evaluating novel radiotracers in breast cancer models, including patient-derived xenografts and other mouse tumor models.
• •Perform three-dimensional image registration, tumor and organ segmentation, longitudinal volume-of-interest tracking, and extraction of tissue and blood-pool time–activity curves.
• •Quantify tumor uptake, normal-organ distribution, tracer clearance, tumor-to-background ratios, and changes across serial imaging studies and treatment conditions.
• •Develop and implement radiotracer compartmental models using systems of ordinary differential equations, constrained nonlinear optimization, and weighted least-squares parameter estimation.
• •Estimate radiotracer transport and binding parameters, including K₁, k₂, k₃, and k₄, and derive total distribution volume and distribution volume ratios when supported by the selected model and tracer biology.
• •Apply and compare compartmental, Logan graphical, and reference-tissue methods. Evaluate model assumptions, parameter identifiability, residual structure, and goodness of fit using appropriate model-selection criteria.
• •Construct and validate image-derived input functions, incorporating corrections for plasma-to-whole-blood partitioning, radio metabolites, vascular contribution, and input-function delay and dispersion as appropriate.
• •Evaluate and correct sources of quantitative imaging error, including partial-volume effects, spill-in and spill-out, motion, image misregistration, and differences in spatial resolution or reconstruction settings.
• •Perform parameter sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations to characterize estimation bias, precision, and robustness to measurement noise. Use these analyses to guide dynamic framing, acquisition duration, and selection of quantitative imaging endpoints.
• •Assess how segmentation variability, image noise, input-function uncertainty, and model assumptions propagate into estimates of radiotracer uptake and kinetic parameters.
• •Develop reproducible computational workflows for batch processing large animal imaging datasets, including image resampling, coordinate transformations, automated quality checks, metadata validation, and extraction of quantitative features.
• •Integrate animal imaging measurements with ex vivo biodistribution, autoradiography, immunofluorescence, histology, and other tissue assays to evaluate radiotracer behavior, target specificity, and biological validity.

• •Laboratory Leadership and Mentoring
• •Oversee daily scientific and operational activities across the laboratory, coordinating personnel, study schedules, equipment, supplies, and shared resources.
• •Mentor all laboratory research personnel and trainees in experimental design, quantitative methods, data interpretation, scientific writing, and presentation of results.
• •Meet individually with each laboratory member every week to review raw data, laboratory records, analyses, and figures; identify technical problems and establish specific plans for the following week.
• •Review the technical validity, completeness, and reproducibility of experimental results and analytical workflows across laboratory projects.
• •Coordinate progress across animal, cell culture, imaging, and tissue-based studies, ensuring appropriate controls, consistent documentation, and timely completion.
• •Meet regularly with the principal investigator to review laboratory-wide progress, resolve problems, and prioritize research activities.

• •Data Management and Statistical Analysis
• •Organize, curate, and analyze large imaging and experimental datasets, maintaining accurate links among animals, specimens, imaging sessions, treatments, and outcomes.
• •Independently perform statistical analyses appropriate to each study, including group comparisons, correlations, regression, and longitudinal analyses.
• •Apply mixed-effects models to account for repeated measurements within animals and multiple lesions where applicable. Use resampling methods to estimate uncertainty and assess the stability of analytical results.
• •Maintain documented analytical methods, reproducible code, data dictionaries, and traceability from original data to final figures and tables.
• •Establish consistent procedures for data storage, backup, access, and version control.

• •Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
• •Position is