Senior Research Scientist-Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

What we do here changes the world. UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, scientific discovery, and excellence in patient care. That’s where you come in.

Once you join us you won't want to leave. It’s because we reward our team for the excellent service they provide. Our total rewards package includes the benefits you’d expect from a top healthcare organization (benefits, insurance, etc.), plus:

• 100% paid medical premiums for our full-time employees

• Generous time off (holidays, preventative leave day, both vacation and sick time – all of which equates to around 37-38 days per year)

• The longer you stay, the more vacation you’ll accrue!

• Longevity Pay (Monthly payments after two years of service)

• Build your future with our awesome retirement/pension plan!

We take care of our employees! As a world-renowned institution, our employees’ wellbeing is important to us. We offer work/life services such as...

• Free financial and legal counseling

• Free mental health counseling services

• Gym membership discounts and access to wellness programs

• Other employee discounts including entertainment, car rentals, cell phones, etc.

• Resources for child and elder care

• Plus many more!

Position Summary:

We are looking for a Senior Research Scientist to lead and execute complex research projects, providing advanced expertise in experimental design, data analysis, and methodology development. This role will identify and evaluate impactful research opportunities, drive studies from concept to publication, and communicate findings through presentations and peer-reviewed work.

The ideal candidate will collaborate with stakeholders, contribute to grant development, and integrate new technologies to enhance research outcomes. They will also mentor junior team members, support lab operations, and promote a safe research environment. Candidates should have deep expertise in electrophysiological recording of ion channels (preferably glutamate receptors) and at least five years of postdoctoral research experience.

Position Key Accountabilities:

• Designs executes and interprets the results of complex scientific experiments using advanced equipment, complex technique methods, and procedures.

• Evaluates and interprets data and provides results to support publication. Collaborates and submits research findings through written research papers, public presentation at local or national meetings, or exchanges with faculty member and other scientists to advance the scientific knowledge.

• Identifies and assesses the feasibility and significance of research projects. Conducts a feasibility study in terms of staff, time, and resources. If the findings are favorable, design the procedures and establish a research methodology to investigate and solve the problem.

• Formulates and implements new research techniques to enable projects to be carried out efficiently and complete assigned goals. Formulates a project or identifies a problem by partnering with key stakeholders.

• Prepares grant applications under the direction of the principal investigator.

• Stays abreast of new research progress and technological advances to upgrade research skills and produce accurate results. Researches literature for new progress and technological advances to upgrade research skills.

• Maintains lab equipment, assists in necessary repairs, and promotes a safe laboratory environment. Ensures direct reports follow safety procedures and attend introductory safety training courses.

• As a senior member of the lab, may lead lab meetings and may mentor junior lab members, including staff, students, and postdocs.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Certification/Skills:

• None

Minimum Education:

Doctorate Degree required

Minimum Experience:

4 years of experience in related research environments and have verifiable publications within the field of the research project required

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 20 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This position is a security-sensitive position pursuant to Texas Education Code §51.215 and Texas Government Code §411.094. To the extent that a position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Texas Business and Commerce Code §117.001(2), the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired for and to continue to be employed in that position. Personnel in such positions, and similarly situated state contractors, will be routinely reviewed to determine whether things such as criminal history or continuous connections to the government or political apparatus of a foreign adversary might prevent the applicant, employee, or contractor from being able to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure. A foreign adversary is a nation