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Job Summary

The Donna and Benjamin M. Rosen Bioengineering Center (www.rosen.caltech.edu) promotes and supports creative and cutting-edge research across all bioengineering disciplines at Caltech. The Executive Director will have the opportunity to lead and expand the Rosen Bioengineering Center's efforts, working with faculty, staff, and students across the Institute doing innovative research in multiple fields at the intersection between biology and engineering. The Executive Director will collaborate with Caltech development, administration, and communications offices to support bioengineering research and education, and to communicate Caltech advances to the public. The Executive Director reports to the Director of the Rosen Bioengineering Center.

The Kornfield Lab at Caltech is seeking a Staff Scientist to join a research and clinical translation effort to develop scientific knowledge and technologies to impact human health, in particular, improving human vision through ocular drug delivery. The Staff Scientist will work with the PI to execute research on the delivery of therapeutic particles to the cornea. The position will support the PI through the iterative improvement of a pneumatic particle delivery device, development, and implementation of methods to characterize particle delivery, preparation of scientific manuscripts, preparation of provisional and full patent applications, acquisition of research funding, and personnel recruitment and training. The successful candidate will have independence, creativity, and drive to advance the frontiers of knowledge, to develop new biomedical technologies, to benefit human health, and to mentor the next generation of researchers. They will also have the opportunity to co-author and/or write journal articles, procedural guides, or manuals, as well as present research work at seminars and conferences.

This hybrid position requires a responsible leadership professional who will use their experience to develop, adapt, execute, and manage programs of the Center and the lab. The Executive Director/Staff Scientist is responsible for oversight of operations and finances and is expected to provide strong administrative leadership for the Rosen Bioengineering Center’s flagship programs and for the research lab. The Executive Director/Staff Scientist will oversee and coordinate the Rosen Bioengineering Center’s Pilot Grant Program and other requests for Center support, including proposal reviews and selection processes for scientific projects and scholarships. The Executive Director/Staff Scientist will coordinate and manage the Biotechnology Leadership Predoctoral Training Program in Micro/Nanomedicine (BLP). This is a hands-on role that requires the successful candidate to be able to directly perform most aspects of the position with limited assistance.

Essential Job Duties

• Develop and manage annual budgets and reporting for the Rosen Bioengineering Center and its programs.
• Manage and direct the development, implementation, administration, and evaluation of Rosen Bioengineering Center programs. Monitor trends and recommend relevant program changes and direction(s).
• Create and maintain calendars of events, workshops, training, and programs for the Rosen Bioengineering Center and for graduate student trainees in the BLP.
• Manage and produce Rosen Center events throughout the year. Develop new events/programs as needed.
• Manage all administrative tasks, including processing and reconciling financial transactions and records administration, coordinating option events, and working with others as needed.
• Maintain and improve state-of-the-art therapeutic particle delivery tools, including mechanical, optical, and electronic components.
• Collaborate with students and postdocs in the lab and with external collaborators to achieve safe, reproducible delivery of therapeutic particles to the cornea; characterize the number and spatial distribution of particles delivered to the cornea; characterize the response of the cornea to biolistic particles, and achieve statistically significant results for the residence time distributions of particles in the cornea.
• Ensure that research data are properly organized, documented, and stored.
• Work with Caltech OLAR to ensure protocols are kept up to date and approved.
• Assist with the execution of research in the laboratory to enable the timely accomplishment of research goals.
• Assist students and postdocs with project design and execution (which may include identifying and engaging internal and external resources), implementation, and troubleshooting.
• Assist with generating data for and preparing grant proposals, grant reports, patents, and publications, as well as the preparation of the technical sections of grant proposals.
• Assist the PI in recruitment, evaluation, and training of research personnel, including students and postdocs.
• Serve as the lab’s technical expert in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and maintain OCT equipment within the lab.
• Other duties may also be assigned.

We are seeking a professional who:

• Has outstanding writing and editing skills in highly technical contexts.
• Is able to gain trust and inspire others toward reaching strategic goals.
• Has great people skills and is able to work well with strong personalities.
• Is proactive, can prioritize/organize time well, and has attention to detail.
• Is comfortable interpreting and taking directions via email.
• Has substantial experience in scientific research administration, including preparing research and training proposals, overseeing awarded projects and programs, communicating with funding agencies, and preparing periodic technical reports.
• Has the desire to collaborate with and mentor the next generation of researchers.

Basic Qualifications

• PhD in bioengineering, chemical engineering, or related field with at least 4 years of related work experience.
• At least 3 years of experience managing scientific research and/or training programs in academic or non-profit institutions, centers, or institutes, and one year of postdoctoral experience.
• Familiarity with Institute operations and administrative practices.
• Demonstrated outstanding communication skills, both oral and written; effective technical communication skills, including scientific writing and data visualization.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a diverse and interdisciplinary group of researchers and external collaborators, as well as with administration, faculty, staff, students, and the broader university community.
• Ability to work in a collaborative environment while also independently managing and administering programs and events.
• Ability to make substantial contributions and work effectively in areas that are new/ambiguous.
• Strong critical and organizational skills and an ability to handle multiple and complex tasks and projects concurrently, with attention to detail and deadlines.
• Broad, interdisciplinary mindset along with flexibility and willingness to continue learning.
• Knowledge of laboratory safety practices in relation to chemical, biological, optical, mechanical, and electrical hazards.
• Must be self-motivated, able to take the initiative, and able to work independently.

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated excellent strategic planning, organizational, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to successfully implement innovative academic programs.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative in program development and evaluation.
• Experience in student activities, student leadership, mentoring, or experiential learning at the university or college level.
• Experience with university outreach or collaboration.
• Outstanding record of independent publications and a record of successful fundraising from government and private sources.

Required Documents

• Resume