Engineer 1

Case Western Reserve University, United States

Updated: 3 months ago
Location: Campus, ILLINOIS
Job Type: FullTime

POSITION OBJECTIVE

Working under general supervision, the Engineer 1 will be responsible collecting data and support biomedical engineering faculty and staff with maintenance of experimental laboratory equipment with special emphasis to NIH funded project – specifically to Reconstruct Vagal Anatomy (REVA). The project was awarded a 3 year NIH SPARC grant, to assist in speeding up the development of therapeutic devices that control electrical activity in nerves to improve chronic medical conditions. The REVA teams’ goal will be to show how nerve tracts in the vagus map to organs. Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve has been used to treat epilepsy, rheumatoid arthritis and heart failure, among many other conditions. The engineer 1 position will work and collaborate with the principal investigator, postdoctoral researchers, graduate, and undergraduate students in the lab along with off-campus collaborators. This person will participate in maintaining a strong lab culture within the research group. Regular responsibilities include generating data and text for progress reports and participating in weekly meetings. The engineer will also support the lab environment by managing ordering of supplies and maintaining updates to the group website. This position will work with animals.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

  • Perform specific aspects of a broader engineering problem. Evaluate and maintain engineering laboratory equipment and systems used for teaching and research. Assist in developing novel staining techniques to enhance microCT imaging contrast in neural tissues as well as developing procedures for operating custom-fabricated laboratory equipment that automates tissue sectioning and/or imaging. Provide input to the principal investigator and research staff regarding reporting milestones in the REVA project. (25%)
  • Support complex scientific and research programs related to area of specialization; analyze data, monitor and oversee experimental process, and design and develop prototypes, specialized equipment, and/or systems. Examples include collecting data from imaging modalities (microCT, ultrasound, microscopy), and performing image processing tasks as assigned. Other examples include participating in IACUC approved animal studies and dissections and developing procedures. Assist undergraduate and graduate students with the design, fabrication, instrumentation, testing, and disposal of laboratory experiments (25%)
  • Apply methods and techniques, adjust and correlate data, determine errors in results, and follow the operation through a series of related steps to completion. Examples include using Matlab scripts, R scripts, Minitab, Origin, and other standard data analysis tools to process and visualize data. Other examples include improved image processing methods or data analysis techniques based on literature and conducting experiments given standard operating procedures and protocols. (20%)
  • Exercise judgment on certain details of the work and in assisting in making preliminary selections and adoptions of possible alternatives. Examples include optimizing antibody assays or staining techniques on tissues for imaging and maintaining a safe laboratory environment in accordance with university procedures and policies. (10%)
  • May be assisted in work by a technician or student helper, including working with animals as a surgical assistant, or to perform post operative care with animals. Other examples include working with undergraduate and graduate students to facilitate their learning of new instrumentation or procedures in the lab. Other examples include stock and maintain laboratory inventory for faculty, research staff and teaching laboratories within the Dr. Shoffstall labs (10%)

    •  

    NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

    Assist with improvement projects of faculty and student spaces such as moving of furniture, reorganization, and disposal of items. (5%)

    Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

     

    CONTACTS

    Department: Daily contact with supervisor to maintain workflow (Frequent 65%).

    University: Occasional contact with other departments to share information (Occasional 10%).

    External: Limited or no contact with vendors to exchange information (Occasional 10%).

    Students: Contact with student employees to exchange information (Occasional 15%).

     

    SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY

    This position has no direct supervision of staff employees. Train new staff, direct the work of students.

     

    QUALIFICATIONS

    Experience: 0 to 2 years of professional engineering experience.

    Education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering.

     

    REQUIRED SKILLS 

  • Has knowledge of commonly-used concepts, practices, and procedures within a biomedical engineering.
  • Relies on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job.
  • Ability to operate laboratory equipment.
  • Ability to meet consistent attendance.
  • Ability to interact with colleagues, supervisors and customers face to face.
  • Ability to work with animals.

    •  

    WORKING CONDITIONS

    General laboratory environment. May have exposure to hazards.

    Case Western Reserve University's animal facilities are accredited by the Association for the Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) and is managed according to the "Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals” appropriate Federal Animal Welfare Regulations, and the Public Health Service “Policy on the Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals."  This position, and all animal research personnel, are subject to internal compliance to medical school Animal Resource Center Standard Operating Procedures and to compliance regulations of the Animal Welfare Act, Public Health Service Policy, AAALAC guidelines, the State of Ohio Veterinary Practice Act, Federal Drug Enforcement Administration regulatory guidelines, US Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine regulations and other applicable regulatory guidelines.

    This is a Term position. They are treated like regular staff positions for medical and dental benefits eligibility, vacation, holidays, and sick time.  Term employees are not eligible for life insurance, retirement, long term disability, short term disability, tuition assistance, layoff status, or severance pay.  Staff in term positions are also subject to the performance management review process and positive corrective action when work performance or behavior is unsatisfactory or unacceptable.  Term employment does not alter the employment-at-will employee status of these employees.

    .

    In employment, as in education, Case Western Reserve University is committed to Equal Opportunity and Diversity.  Women, veterans, members of underrepresented minority groups, and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

    .

    Case Western Reserve University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.  Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should contact the Office of Equity at 216-368-3066 to request a reasonable accommodation.  Determinations as to granting reasonable accommodations for any applicant will be made on a case-by-case basis.

    .

    Similar Positions