Research Scientist/Engineer 3

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

About The Position

The University of Washington Department of Bioengineering is seeking a Research Scientist/Engineer 3 to join Professor Suzie H. Pun’s research laboratory. The Pun laboratory develops biomaterials for biomedical applications, including cancer therapeutics and diagnostics and technologies for trauma medicine. The position supports biomaterial development, characterization, and evaluation. The role involves developing and implementing biomaterial design strategies, reviewing scientific literature, conducting polymer and small-molecule synthesis, characterizing materials, and designing and optimizing experiments. The Research Scientist/Engineer 3 also coordinates research tasks, documents laboratory work, collaborates with internal and external partners, mentors junior researchers, prepares reports and presentations, contributes to scientific publications, and assists with grant preparation and management. UW Bioengineering is a joint department of the College of Engineering and School of Medicine. Its multidisciplinary community develops health care solutions, and its inclusive, collaborative culture supports research, education, and clinical products. This is a regular, 100% FTE position on the first shift. The annual pay range is $80,244 to $89,004. The position is represented by the UAW Research bargaining unit.

Requirements

B.A. in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Bioengineering, or Chemical Engineering; equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications where permitted.
Four years of experience in controlled radical polymerization (ATRP and RAFT), large-scale monomer and polymer synthesis (>1 kg), polymer characterization, and small-molecule synthesis.
Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will not be forwarded to the hiring manager.

Nice To Haves

Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or a closely related discipline.
Expertise in precision polymer synthesis, such as controlled radical polymerization (RAFT, ATRP, or related techniques including ROMP and ROP).
Experience designing functional polymers with tailored physicochemical properties, such as hydrophilicity, charge density, degradability, and rheology.
Strong understanding of polymer–water interactions, osmotic pressure, and structure–property relationships.
Experience with polymer characterization techniques such as NMR, SEC/GPC, DSC, TGA, rheology, and DLS.
Experience in small-molecule synthesis, including air- and water-free techniques.
Demonstrated ability to manage projects and meet deliverables on time.
Experience evaluating biomaterials in animal trauma and/or hemorrhage models.
Experience working with multidisciplinary research teams.
Prior collaboration with industrial partners and/or clinicians.
Experience mentoring and training Ph.D. students and undergraduates.
Record of scientific writing and first-author publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
Experience designing and analyzing statistically powered experiments (DOE, ANOVA, regression) using statistical packages such as JMP, Matlab, Minitab, Python, or R.
Strong technical writing and documentation skills, including laboratory notebook documentation.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement biomaterial design strategies in support of research objectives and long-term project goals.
Review and synthesize scientific literature to inform experimental design, identify technical challenges, and contribute to project planning and feasibility assessments.
Conduct polymer synthesis and characterize materials using appropriate analytical techniques.
Design, execute, and optimize biomaterial evaluation experiments, developing technical approaches to answer research questions and solve complex experimental problems.
Lead or coordinate research tasks within broader projects and align work with project timelines and scientific objectives.
Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory notebooks in compliance with institutional and funding requirements.
Participate in research group meetings, interdisciplinary collaborations, and technical discussions.
Collaborate with internal and external research partners to support project goals and identify potential research directions or funding sources.
Train and mentor junior scientists, students, and research staff in experimental techniques, polymer synthesis, and laboratory best practices.
Guide junior researchers on research design, data interpretation, and professional development; review their work for quality, accuracy, and alignment with project objectives.
Prepare and deliver presentations and technical reports for research groups, collaborators, institutional leadership, funding agencies, and scientific or public audiences.
Contribute to manuscripts and serve as author or co-author on scientific papers, reports, proposals, and presentations.
Compile research findings, progress summaries, and technical documentation for grant reporting and dissemination.
Contribute technical sections, preliminary data summaries, and project descriptions to grant proposals.
Assist with identifying funding opportunities and developing competitive proposals with research teams.
Contribute to progress reports and funding-agency documentation, accurately communicating project milestones and outcomes.
Perform other duties logically related to the position as assigned by the supervisor.