Manager-Scientific Research: Biomedical Systems Core

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital•Memphis, TN

About The Position

The Department of Imaging Sciences at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is recruiting a Manager of Scientific Research to establish and lead a new Biomedical Systems Core. The Core will provide expertise, infrastructure, and operational support for biomedical sample preparation used in in vivo, tissue-based, and cellular imaging research. It will work with researchers developing novel biomedical imaging technologies, providing training and assistance with specialized procedures and sample preparation methods that require rigorous reproducibility or are outside the expertise of individual research groups. The manager will provide strategic and operational leadership, overseeing projects, processes, resources, and staffing while building technical capabilities that enable innovative imaging-based biomedical research. The role combines hands-on scientific collaboration with people leadership, resource planning, quality oversight, training, and the development of consistent and repeatable research practices. The successful candidate will partner with faculty, laboratory personnel, institutional resources, external collaborators, and vendors, and will help the Core adapt its services as departmental needs evolve.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a relevant scientific discipline is required.
At least 7 years of experience in a relevant technical field in industry or academia is required with a bachelor’s degree.
At least 5 years of experience in a relevant technical field is required with a master’s degree.
At least 2 years of experience in a relevant technical field is required with a Ph.D.
Experience supporting in vivo, tissue-based, or cell-based research in an academic or research-intensive environment.
Experience in in vivo research support, protocol management, regulatory compliance, shared resource operations, and collaborative service delivery.
Proven performance in an earlier or comparable role.
Maintain regular and predictable attendance.

Nice To Haves

Experience managing at least 1–2 people.
Extensive experience leading projects and processes end to end, including resource planning and management and communication and collaboration with internal cross-functional teams and external partners.
Experience leading and mentoring teams.
Experience leading research operations relating to comparative medicine.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead the Biomedical Systems Core, defining its initial scope, developing technical and operational workflows, and adapting services to departmental needs.
Support departmental in vivo and imaging-related research through study planning, feasibility assessment, model coordination, protocol development and maintenance, sample collection, documentation, and troubleshooting.
Work with Comparative Medicine to manage and oversee a dedicated in vivo satellite space and procedure suite.
Supervise and maintain an adjacent shared wet laboratory and tissue culture space, including scheduling, supplies, equipment readiness and maintenance, shared use, safety, and compliance.
Build and lead a team of 2–3 specialized staff supporting the development, optimization, and standardization of research procedures, including surgical techniques, in vivo imaging preparations, behavioral testing, tissue and specimen preparation, and basic cell culture methods.
Facilitate collaborations with institutional cores and shared resources for histology and immunohistochemistry, tissue clearing, tissue expansion, and other advanced sample preparation approaches.
Monitor emerging technologies and work with external partners, consultants, and vendors to improve research projects, recommend and evaluate technologies, and support the delivery and maintenance of services and resources.
Guide and monitor project execution to support timely and reliable delivery, including assisting with optimization, troubleshooting, and interpretation of results.
Establish and maintain practices for training, recordkeeping, protocol documentation, quality, safety, and regulatory compliance in a shared research environment.
Build the Core’s technical capabilities through direct participation, institutional collaboration, and recruitment, supervision, coaching, and development of direct reports.
Set goals, provide feedback, support career development, and manage team performance to ensure consistent, high-quality scientific services and collaboration.
Assist with operational planning, resource allocation, and budget needs to support sustainable and responsive Core services.
Perform other duties as assigned to meet departmental and institutional goals while maintaining regular and predictable attendance.