Post Baccalaureate Researcher

Hospital for Special Surgery • New York, NY

4d • $48,500 - $74,375 • Onsite

About The Position

The Post Baccalaureate Researcher Program at HSS offers training in clinical and translational science. The program provides opportunities to engage in translational research experiences highly relevant for individuals interested in furthering their career through medical school, graduate school, or other clinical or research training. The Post-Bacc trainee will gain aptitude in techniques of patient-centered clinical research, physiology, biomechanical testing, physics-based computer simulation, and data analysis and interpretation. The trainee will build skills in scientific communication in oral and written form by presenting to his peers and mentors at monthly research meetings; by formulating abstracts for presentation at major clinical and scientific conferences; and by preparing publications for submission to well-ranked orthopaedic specialty journals. Clinical shadowing experiences, attending Grand Rounds of clinical services, and participating in laboratory meetings of the Biomechanics Department will enrich the clinical and translational experience in preparation for graduate or medical school. A minimum 12-month commitment is preferred. The trainee will contribute immediately to ongoing clinical research as part of an interdisciplinary clinical and translational research team consisting of arthroplasty surgeons, mechanical engineers, statisticians, and epidemiologists. The Post-Baccalaureate Fellow will join an interdisciplinary research team comprising members from the Department of Biomechanics, The Arthroplasty Service, and The Sports Medicine Institute. The trainee will contribute to two ongoing translational research projects. The first focuses on patellofemoral mechanics after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The long-term goal of this work is to alleviate persistent anterior knee pain after TKA, which is believed to arise in part from abnormal mechanics of the reconstructed extensor mechanism. The project integrates experimental biomechanics and computational modeling to develop a platform for predicting patient-specific patellofemoral mechanics. The trainee will assist with a cadaveric biomechanics study examining the mechanical effects of patellofemoral joint thickness (“over- and under-stuffing”) on patellofemoral and tibiofemoral kinematics; extensor mechanism force requirements patellofemoral load measurement; and retinacular soft-tissue strain. The project integrates experimental biomechanics and computational modeling to develop a platform for predicting patient-specific patellofemoral mechanics. The trainee will work closely with a postdoctoral fellow who leads the computational modeling component, contributing experimental data that will be used to validate subject-specific knee models. The trainee will also contribute to a second ongoing clinical and translational research project entitled: “Predicting graft failure in ACL reconstruction: a quantitative imaging, knee stability, and patient-specific knee modeling approach.” A second ACL injury is a devastating outcome following reconstruction. The long-term goal of this research program is to reduce ACL reinjury through evidence-based improvements in surgical decision-making and rehabilitation strategies. This project integrates: quantitative MRI imaging of ACL graft structure; computational modeling of knee function; knee stability measurements; biomechanical analysis of knee anatomy and mechanics; patient-reported outcomes. The trainee will participate in data collection, analysis, and research coordination within a highly productive clinical and translational research team. Overall, the trainee will gain hands-on experience in mechanical testing, biomechanics experimentation via cadaveric and computational modeling, clinical research methods, quantitative data analysis, and scientific communication, while working closely with surgeons, engineers, radiologists, statisticians, and rehabilitation specialists. The trainee will work as part of a highly productive team of translational scientists and clinicians employing novel approaches pioneered at HSS. Additional opportunities to contribute to on-going projects are possible as well. The Post-Bacc trainee will be embedded within the Arthroplasty Service, The Sports Medicine Institute, and the Department of Biomechanics and will be closely connected with the clinical practices of participating surgeons offering a unique opportunity for clinical and scientific mentorship.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in: Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Bioengineering, Physics or related field
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills
• Interest in orthopaedic biomechanics or musculoskeletal medicine
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary research team
• Proficient use of computers and software including Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint

Nice To Haves

• Experience with MATLAB, Python, or similar programming tools
• Coursework in biomechanics, mechanics, or physiology
• Interest in pursuing medical school or graduate school
• Previous laboratory research experience
• Prior exposure to cadaveric biomechanical testing
• Prior clinical research experience
• Exceptional organizational skills and adherence to study protocols
• Self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a team
• Strong written and verbal communication ability
• Familiarity with statistical analysis and testing and scientific data processing tools

Responsibilities

• Gain aptitude in techniques of patient-centered clinical research, physiology, biomechanical testing, physics-based computer simulation, and data analysis and interpretation.
• Build skills in scientific communication in oral and written form by presenting to peers and mentors at monthly research meetings.
• Formulate abstracts for presentation at major clinical and scientific conferences.
• Prepare publications for submission to well-ranked orthopaedic specialty journals.
• Contribute to ongoing clinical research as part of an interdisciplinary clinical and translational research team.
• Assist with a cadaveric biomechanics study examining the mechanical effects of patellofemoral joint thickness on patellofemoral and tibiofemoral kinematics, extensor mechanism force requirements, patellofemoral load measurement, and retinacular soft-tissue strain.
• Contribute experimental data to validate subject-specific knee models.
• Participate in data collection, analysis, and research coordination within a clinical and translational research team.
• Gain hands-on experience in mechanical testing, biomechanics experimentation via cadaveric and computational modeling, clinical research methods, quantitative data analysis, and scientific communication.
• Work closely with surgeons, engineers, radiologists, statisticians, and rehabilitation specialists.
• Work as part of a highly productive team of translational scientists and clinicians employing novel approaches.

Benefits

• Additional benefits consistent with the role

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level