Research Assistant Professor, UC Imaging Research, Development & Innovation Center, Radiology Dept

Job Overview

As one of the oldest medical schools in the country, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (COM) has a reputation for training best-in-class health care professionals and developing cutting-edge procedures and research that improves the health and clinical care of patients. In partnership with the UC Health academic healthcare system and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, College of Medicine's faculty are transforming the world of medicine every day. The Department of Radiology is a top-tier department with world-renowned faculty and staff.

A full-time Research Assistant Professor faculty position is available in the Department of Radiology at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. This faculty position will support the continued growth and research mission of the UC Imaging Research, Development, and Innovation Center and contribute to MRI-focused research across the Department of Radiology.

This position is intended for a research-focused scientist with expertise in advanced MRI applications. Areas of particular interest include neuroimaging, artificial intelligence and machine learning for imaging, pulse sequence development, quantitative MRI, image reconstruction, functional MRI, diffusion MRI, perfusion imaging, imaging biomarkers, and translational clinical imaging.

The successful candidate will develop an independent and collaborative research program with external funding potential; contribute to human-subjects imaging research; support MRI protocol development, data acquisition, image analysis, and quality assurance; publish in peer-reviewed journals; participate in grant development; and provide limited mentoring, lecturing, and service as assigned.

The faculty member will be appointed in the Department of Radiology and will report to the Research Director of the Imaging RDI Center and the Department Chair. The role is designed to advance MRI-focused research, development, and innovation within the Imaging RDI Center while also supporting broader departmental and interdisciplinary imaging research.

The College of Medicine Research Track is full-time and on the non-tenure track. It is appropriate for faculty whose primary professional effort is research, augmented by program development, administrative service, clinical service, and/or educational activities. Research Track Assistant Professors are expected to participate in well-designed research programs with external funding potential, demonstrate scholarly productivity, and contribute to teaching, mentoring, service, and governance activities as required by departmental needs.

Research Environment

The UC Imaging Research, Development, and Innovation Center supports interdisciplinary imaging research across the College of Medicine and affiliated clinical and research programs. The Center provides opportunities for collaboration with radiology faculty, imaging scientists, clinicians, engineers, physicists, technologists, trainees, and research staff.

The successful candidate will join a growing research environment focused on advancing MRI innovation, translational imaging, human-subjects imaging research, and externally funded interdisciplinary research.

Work Environment

This position is primarily based in an academic medical center, research, office, and MRI imaging environment. The role involves interaction with MRI equipment, human research participants, clinical and research teams, imaging technologists, trainees, and computational resources. Some hybrid work may be possible depending on role responsibilities and departmental needs.

Appointment and Performance Expectations

Appointment will be made at the rank of Research Assistant Professor on the non-tenure Research Track in the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Radiology. This is a 1.0 FTE faculty appointment.

The faculty member will be expected to develop an independent, externally funded research program while contributing to collaborative imaging research across the UC Imaging RDI Center and the Department of Radiology. Performance will be evaluated based on research productivity, scholarly output, external funding activity, Center and departmental research contributions, human-subjects research support, mentoring and lecturing as assigned, service, and fulfillment of responsibilities described in appointment and reappointment materials.

Essential Functions

The Research Assistant Professor will be expected to perform the following duties.

Research and Scholarship

• Develop an independent and collaborative MRI-focused research program with external funding potential.
• Design, optimize, validate, and implement advanced MRI methods, acquisition protocols, image-processing workflows, imaging biomarkers, and related technologies.
• Conduct research in areas such as neuroimaging, artificial intelligence for imaging, pulse sequence development, quantitative MRI, functional MRI, diffusion MRI, perfusion imaging, image reconstruction, MR spectroscopy, or translational clinical imaging.
• Collaborate with radiologists, imaging scientists, clinicians, physicists, engineers, technologists, trainees, and research staff.
• Prepare and contribute to grant applications, manuscripts, abstracts, progress reports, technical reports, and other scholarly products.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Present research at local, regional, national, and international scientific meetings.

UC Imaging RDI Center and Departmental Research Support

• Support the research mission and operations of the UC Imaging Research, Development, and Innovation Center.
• Provide scientific and technical expertise for MRI study design, protocol development, feasibility assessment, data acquisition, image processing, quality assurance, and interpretation.
• Support MRI research activities within the Imaging RDI Center and across the Department of Radiology.
• Assist with the development of imaging research workflows, standard operating procedures, technical standards, and best practices.
• Contribute to Center and departmental initiatives designed to expand imaging research capacity, innovation, collaboration, and external funding.

Human-Subjects Research and Compliance

• Participate in the design, development, and execution of human-subjects MRI research studies.
• Contribute to IRB submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, study protocols, informed consent materials, and related regulatory documentation.
• Support the safe, ethical, compliant, and scientifically rigorous conduct of human-subjects imaging research.
• Ensure research activities comply with institutional policies, MRI safety requirements, human-subjects protections, privacy requirements, and applicable federal regulations.

Teaching, Mentoring, and Service

• Provide limited mentoring to students, residents, fellows, postdoctoral researchers, research staff, or junior collaborators as assigned.
• Participate in lectures, seminars, workshops, or other educational activities as assigned.
• Serve on departmental, Center, college, university, or professional committees as appropriate.
• Contribute to governance, program development, and administrative activities that support the Imaging RDI Center, Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, and university research missions.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

• PhD or equivalent doctoral degree in a field appropriate to the position, such as MRI physics, medical physics, biomedical engineering, electrical engineering, radiology, neuroscience, imaging science, computer science, applied mathematics, data science, or a closely related discipline.

Required Education

• Must have obtained a Doctorate or terminal degree from a regionally accredited college or university of recognized standing in a field appropriate to the requirements of the position. For positions within Performing and Studio Arts or Nursing, an appropriate Master's degree may replace the Doctoral requirement.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Postdoctoral training or equivalent research experience in MRI, biomedical imaging, imaging science, quantitative imaging, image reconstruction, image analysis, medical physics, biomedical engineering, neuroscience, or a closely related area.
• Research training and experience relevant to MRI, biomedical imaging, advanced imaging applications, or a closely related field.
• Experience conducting or supporting human-subjects imaging research.
• Evidence of scholarly productivity or strong potential for scholarly productivity through peer-reviewed publications, abstracts, presentations, grant participation, technical contributions to imaging research, or equivalent research accomplishments.
• Experience contributing to manuscripts, abstracts, grant proposals, technical reports, externally funded research programs, or equivalent scholarly products.
• Ability to work effectively with investigators, clinicians, trainees, technical staff, research coordinators, and interdisciplinary research teams.
• Ability to develop an independent research program with external funding potential.
• Ability to contribute to mentoring, lecturing, and service activities as assigned.
  
  

  Preference will be given to candidates with expertise or experience in one or more of the following areas:

  
  
  
  
  • Neuroimaging research.
  • Artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational imaging, or related methods for imaging research.
  • MRI pulse sequence development.
  • Advanced MRI applications, including quantitative imaging, functional MRI, diffusion MRI, perfusion imaging, MR spectroscopy, image reconstruction, imaging biomarkers, or translational clinical imaging.
  • MRI protocol optimization or experience with GE MRI platforms.
  • Human-subjects research processes, including IRB submissions, amendments, continuing reviews, consent materials, study documentation, and related regulatory processes.
  • Programming experience in MATLAB, Python, C/C++, R, shell scripting, or comparable tools.
  • Image analysis platforms, high-performance computing, reproducible workflows, or research data management.
  • Prior grant funding, fellowship support, pilot funding, or meaningful contribution to funded research.
  • Mentoring of students, fellows, research staff, or junior investigators.
  • Experience working in an academic medical center or interdisciplinary research environment.
  
  
  
  

Required Applications Materials

Applicants should submit the following materials:

• Curriculum vitae
• Cover letter
• Research statement
• Names and contact information for references

Physical Requirements/Work Environment