Senior Research Specialist

NextGen Precision Health

The Senior Research Specialist is a mission critical operational role required to maintain the daily research functions, regulatory compliance, and technical infrastructure of the NextGen building. This position serves as a central coordination point for investigators, research staff, and the NextGen Director, enabling timely and compliant execution of research activities across multiple sponsored programs. This position also collaborates with the NextGen facilities manager to coordinate service and access for assigned shared instruments and rooms; provides coverage for instrument operations during staff absences.

Essential Operational Responsibilities
This role ensures uninterrupted research activity by performing daily operational checks, maintenance, and troubleshooting for advanced imaging systems and other specialized research equipment. The position oversees maintenance, readiness, and vendor coordination for specialized imaging systems, catheterization lab equipment, and other core instrumentation. These systems are essential for executing preclinical imaging and animal related workflows across multiple sponsored research programs. The position also provides day to day technical assistance to investigators and laboratory staff, preventing delays and ensuring research timelines remain intact.

Regulatory Compliance
The position is responsible for the regulatory reporting, system checks, documentation, and billing reconciliation for ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization. The position also maintains inventories of regulated materials and performs weekly updates to ensure materials remain compliant and available for scheduled activities.

Shared Infrastructure and Equipment Oversight
The position coordinates scheduling for assigned shared instruments and procedure rooms and contributes to centralized scheduling processes, ensuring efficient utilization and avoiding conflicts that could disrupt experiments. They also coordinate preventive maintenance and vendor service for specialized equipment-including advanced imaging systems and catheter lab instrumentation-to minimize downtime and maintain functionality. In addition, the specialist prepares validated usage and charge data for monthly cost recovery in coordination with the responsible fiscal unit and collaborates with the facilities manager in conducting annual space and equipment inventory in NextGen.

Communication, Coordination, and Training
This role serves as a critical liaison among investigators, research teams, and administrative and animal care partners, enabling smooth coordination of experimental workflows and timely execution of research activities. The position provides day to day technical assistance to PIs and research staff to prevent delays, troubleshoot issues, and maintain research timelines, and conducts ongoing administrative coordination with IT and staff to keep systems functional and aligned with research needs. The specialist also trains researchers and staff in the safe and compliant use of shared core instrumentation, supporting both safety and operational readiness.

Monday - Friday, 8 am - 5 pm

Bachelor's degree and at least 2 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Three plus years of experience working with small animal imaging equipment.

Salary Range: $52,915.20 - $75,000.00 per year

Grade: GGS 9E

University Title: Senior Research Specialist

Internal applicants can determine their University title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Cover Letter and Resume

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.