Research Technician III- Jolley Lab

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia•Philadelphia, PA

1d•$47,020 - $58,780•Onsite

About The Position

This role participates in planned research projects by performing research protocols with minimal direction and guidance from the principal investigator, program director or senior scientists. May exercise moderate discretion and judgment in the execution and interpretation of experiments, and of data derived. Researchers in the Jolley Lab focus on the visualization, quantification, and computational modeling of congenitally abnormal heart structures using multi-modality 3D imaging. Children with congenital heart disease have a broad range of anatomy, and there are few readily available (commercial) tools to facilitate image-based structural phenotyping and patient specific planning of interventions. As such, the Jolley Lab develops and applies custom tools built upon open-source platforms to help answer critical questions in this unique population. The group leverages medical image processing, machine learning, finite element analysis, computer-aided design, virtual reality, and 3D printing to achieve these goals. The lab collaborates with surgeons, cardiac imagers, interventional cardiologists, computer scientists, and engineers with the long-term goal of delivering personalized structural modeling to inform optimal interventions in individual patients. A Research Technician in the Jolley Lab will be an essential part of this effort. This position offers the opportunity to build competencies in translational research and gain exposure to the practice of medicine, specifically pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiac surgery, and pediatric cardiac anesthesia.

Requirements

High School Diploma / GED Required
At least two (2) years of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience Required
Advanced understanding of lab procedures, protocols, and equipment.
Intermediate proficiency with lab specific experiments / techniques.
Intermediate scientific analysis skills.
Excellent verbal and written communications skills
Excellent organizational skills
Strong critical thinking / problem-solving skills
Strong analytical skills

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's Degree Preferred
At least three (3) years of related classroom experience or successful completion of a technical training program (eg. Wistar, WPSI) and research laboratory experience Preferred

Responsibilities

Utilize custom, easy to use software developed in-house for making computer models of pediatric heart valves from 3D ultrasound (no prior programming experience required)
Consent patients and the parents of children for research studies
Associate clinical database information with heart valve models to allow translational insight into the mechanism of dysfunction of abnormal valves
Model existing and novel transcatheter devices
Work with virtual reality, 3D printing, and other techniques for visualizing pediatric hearts and heart valves
Participate in the scientific process of research study design, IRB approval, data analysis, and preparation of written reports, oral presentations, or manuscripts.
Focus on machine learning and automated segmentation of pediatric cardiac valves and ventricles from multimodality images
Performs research procedures on experimental samples with minimal supervision
Formulates and performs complex lab experiments and analyzes/ reports the data
Performs tasks that require knowledge of advanced techniques and lab equipment
Performs advanced calculations and maintains appropriate log and lab notebooks
Assists with planning specific research protocols and procedures
Assists in development & troubleshooting of new techniques and ideas
May be required to modify scientific methods and protocols (in conjunction with PI)
Checks others' results for completeness and accuracy
May be responsible for training and mentoring new staff
May assist in the preparation of grants journal articles, posters and oral presentations
May perform routine and non-routine tests / experiments as needed
Maintains office, lab area, reagents, supplies and equipment
Performs routine maintenance on lab equipment
Coordinates schedules of tests & procedures
Attends courses, seminars, and lab meetings to expand knowledge of research and laboratory techniques
Records results, organizes data and maintains lab notebook in an organized manner
Conducts literary searches as required