Research Area Specialist-Associate

Under general supervision, responsible for the operation of a specialized educational/social science research area within a recognized unit. Assists with research project tasks to include recruitment, data collection, and the day to day operations of research projects.

Join a federally funded clinical and translational research laboratory conducting active research across a portfolio that spans immune resilience, biological aging, military performance, infection, asthma, exercise physiology, heat stress, and trauma. The laboratory’s work generates data that supports ongoing scientific investigation and published research in multispecialty journals including Nature Communications and Aging Cell. The Research Area Specialist holds broad, cross-study responsibility within a defined scientific or operational area of the laboratory.

The Research Area Specialist is an omnibus position that may be filled by candidates with primary expertise in any of several areas relevant to the laboratory’s work, including (but not limited to) clinical research operations, wet-laboratory biology, bioinformatics and computational biology, biospecimen science, physiological monitoring and exercise science, or specialized research methodology relevant to the laboratory’s active portfolio. The position may be filled at multiple education and training levels, including candidates with a bachelor’s degree in biology or a related scientific field (with substantive research experience), candidates with a master’s degree, and candidates with a doctoral (PhD) degree. The specific appointment is calibrated to the candidate’s area of expertise, their training level, and the laboratory’s active scientific needs at the time of hire.

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Area Specialist carries responsibility for the operational and technical conduct of research activities within their area of expertise and across multiple studies as needed. Depending on the specific appointment, core responsibilities may include leading or co-leading the execution of complex research protocols; performing specialized laboratory, computational, or clinical research procedures; obtaining informed consent in accordance with IRB-approved procedures (for clinical research operations roles); designing, executing, and interpreting bioinformatics or computational analyses (for computational roles); managing biospecimen workflows and specimen tracking; developing and refining protocols, computational pipelines, or procedural documentation as appropriate to the role; training and supervising less-senior research staff and trainees; interfacing with investigators, biostatisticians, and clinical collaborators; and contributing substantively to the day-to-day scientific and operational judgment that keeps the laboratory’s federally funded programs moving forward.

The Research Area Specialist works at a level of independence that reflects deep familiarity with the laboratory’s scientific aims and operational standards within their area. The successful candidate will work closely with the Principal Investigator, co-investigators, postdoctoral fellows, research coordinators, and clinical and scientific collaborators across UT Health San Antonio and the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. The role is positioned for candidates with demonstrated expertise in their area, strong operational or scientific judgment, and the capacity to carry responsibility across a multi-study portfolio in a federally funded clinical and translational research environment.

- Demonstrated ability to organize and coordinate work within schedule constraints and handle emergent requirements in a timely manner.
- Demonstrated ability to monitor important and complex projects concurrently.
- Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Lotus Notes/other email software.
- Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing, to include writing and preparing memorandums, letters, and other official correspondence.

Education

- Bachelor's Degree degree in an educational/social science is required.