Research Scientist/Engineer 3

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

21h•$80,244 - $84,000

About The Position

UW Bioengineering is a vibrant community driving advances in health care. As a joint department in the College of Engineering and School of Medicine, we bring together students, scientists, engineers, and clinicians to develop innovative and cost-effective health care solutions that improve lives. Our inclusive and collaborative culture empowers our students, faculty, and staff to make an impact through new fields of research and clinical products. Our award-winning faculty are national leaders in biomedical education, research, and technology transfer. The Bioengineering Department at University of Washington is looking to fill a position at the RSE-3 level in the research laboratory of Professor Suzie H. Pun. The Pun laboratory develops biomaterials for a wide range of biomedical applications, ranging from cancer therapeutics and diagnostics to technologies for trauma medicine. This position supports the biomaterials development, characterization and evaluation aspects of these projects.

Requirements

B.A. in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or closely related discipline
4 years of experience in controlled radical polymerization, polymer characterization and small molecule synthesis.
Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Nice To Haves

Preferred PhD in Polymer Chemistry, Materials Science, Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, or closely related discipline
Demonstrated expertise in precision polymer synthesis (e.g. controlled radical polymerization including RAFT, ATRP, or related techniques – ROMP, ROP).
Experience designing functional polymers with tailored physicochemical properties (e.g. hydrophilicity, charge density, degradability, rheology).
Strong understanding of polymer–water interactions, osmotic pressure, and structure–property relationships.
Experience with polymer characterization (e.g. NMR, SEC/GPC, DSC, TGA, rheology, DLS, etc.)
Experience in small molecule synthesis, including air- and water-free synthesis techniques.
Demonstrated ability to manage projects and meet deliverables on time.
Experience with biomaterials evaluation in animal trauma and/or hemorrhage models.
Experience working with multidisciplinary research teams.
Prior collaboration with industrial partners and/or clinicians.
Experience in mentoring and training Ph.D. students and undergraduates.
Proven record of scientific writing and publication as first author in high impact, peer-reviewed journals.
Experience designing and analyzing statistically powered experiments (DOE, ANOVA, regression) using standard statistical packages (e.g. JMP, Matlab, minitab, python, R, etc.).
Strong technical writing and documentation (e.g. Lab Notebook) skills.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement biomaterial design strategies to support research objectives and long-term project goals.
Review and synthesize current scientific literature to inform experimental design, identify technical challenges, and contribute to project planning and feasibility assessments.
Conduct polymer synthesis and perform comprehensive material characterization using appropriate analytical techniques.
Design, execute, and optimize experiments for biomaterial evaluation, including developing technical approaches to address research questions and solve complex experimental problems.
Lead or coordinate specific research tasks within broader project scopes, ensuring alignment with project timelines and scientific objectives.
Maintain detailed and accurate laboratory notebooks documenting experimental methods, results, and research activities in compliance with institutional and funding requirements.
Participate in and contribute to research group meetings, interdisciplinary collaborations, and technical discussions to advance project outcomes and improve research efficiency.
Collaborate with internal and external research partners to support project goals and identify opportunities for new research directions or funding sources.
Train and mentor junior scientists, students, and research staff in experimental techniques, polymer synthesis methods, and laboratory best practices.
Provide guidance on research design, data interpretation, and professional development, supporting the growth of technical, project management, and scientific communication skills.
Monitor and review the work of junior researchers to ensure quality, accuracy, and alignment with project objectives.
Prepare and deliver presentations and technical reports for research groups, collaborators, institutional leadership, funding agencies, and broader scientific or public audiences.
Contribute to the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication and serve as author or co-author on scientific papers, reports, proposals, and presentations.
Assist in compiling research findings, progress summaries, and technical documentation required for grant reporting and dissemination of results.
Contribute to the preparation and development of grant proposals, including technical sections, preliminary data summaries, and project descriptions.
Assist with identifying potential funding opportunities and collaborating with research teams to develop competitive proposals.
Contribute to required progress reports and documentation for funding agencies, ensuring accurate communication of project milestones and outcomes.