October 23, 2024

Baylor College of Medicine

Assistant Laboratory Director for Body Composition Lab

Summary
The Assistant Laboratory Director of the Body Composition Laboratory in the Children’s Nutrition Research Center will supervise a research lab that provides a complement of body composition measurements using high-precision instruments to measure total body levels of body water, mineral, protein, and fat in human subjects for research purposes. This position requires a versatile individual with a range of skills. The duties and responsibilities are many and varied. They include good interpersonal skills (interaction with PIs, visiting scientists, tour groups), coding experience (mostly Visual Basic within MS Access), mechanical aptitude (occasional instrument troubleshooting), good bedside manner (measuring and interacting with research subjects), writing ability (communicating lab accomplishments via journal articles), among other miscellaneous tasks.
Job Duties
Administrative duties - billing, research protocol management, radiation safety (liaise with the BCM SRO), personnel.
Supervise and occasionally carry out QC/Instrument calibration for DXA, HR-p QCT, Bod Pod, and Pea Pod.
Update and maintain MS Access database. Occasional coding may be required.
Conducts regular Whole Body Gamma Counter QC testing and adjustment of multiple Na I gamma detectors.
Analyze HR-p QCT scans and actively maintain scan backup and archiving.
Serve as consultant/advisory role for collaborating investigators - Often called upon to interact with principal investigators whose subjects are scanned in the lab. This involves suggesting appropriate measurements for upcoming protocols, disseminating data for active protocols, and reviewing results and answering queries related to acquired data.
Perform subject measurement - backup role; measure research subjects using the instrumentation in the lab.
Perform other job related duties as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in a Basic Science or related field.
Four years of relevant experience.
Department Specific Criteria
Familiarity with DXA, Bod Pod and Pea Pod, HR-p QCT, and the concept of K40 gamma counting for Total Body Potassium is required.
Should have documented DXA training.
Radiation safety experience and training will be required.
Preferred Qualifications
Master's degree in a related field.
Baylor College of Medicine is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Equal Access Employer.