MRI Researcher

About the Role

Provide services as an MRI Researcher in support of the overall functions of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) within the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The primary objective is to deliver support services and ensure the smooth operation of the MRI facility, including imaging, data management, and collaboration with research scientists.

Responsibilities

• Schedule maintenance and upgrade visits with MRI instrument vendors.
• Work with MRI instrument clinical scientists, RF coil developers, and other vendors to test and troubleshoot new hardware and software for the MRI scanner.
• Serve as the point of contact for procurement, property management, upgrades, major maintenance, IT support, and other goods and services needed to maintain facility operations.
• Create and maintain documentation for safety issues, including overseeing safety screening, collecting screening forms, and reporting incidents to the Clinical Unit Director and MRI Facility Manager.
• Implement imaging strategies to reduce scan time and perform pre-scan preparations.
• Collect functional and structural magnetic resonance images for recruited subjects.
• Operate the NIA MRI Scanner for structural and functional imaging and MR spectroscopy studies as part of NIA clinical research studies.
• Ensure all research participants, patients, and visitors are free of metal objects and other exclusion criteria before entering the magnet room; adhere to all safety precautions and procedures.
• Transfer, position, and instruct participants regarding procedures to obtain desired radiographic results as specified by research studies.
• Ensure participant safety and comfort throughout scanning using the patient monitoring system.
• Evacuate participants, patients, staff, and visitors in case of emergency; alert appropriate emergency response teams.
• Set up MR-specific equipment, coils, and display equipment for functional imaging.
• Operate the MRI console during scanning; select proper imaging sequences and operate peripheral hardware for effective image and data acquisition.
• Schedule NIA research participants for MRI scans to achieve smooth workflow and optimal facility utilization.
• Maintain stock of required supplies and materials; place orders through appropriate channels.
• Ensure proper disposal of supplies and materials, including hazardous and infectious waste, per safety regulations.
• Verify invoices for services received from outside vendors.
• Coordinate MRI study participant schedules on a daily and weekly basis.
• Serve as an emergency contact for MRI facility issues.
• Reanalyze existing neuroimaging data in collaboration with investigators.
• Maintain and update laboratory notebooks and databases.
• Collaborate with NIA clinical and basic research scientists investigating age-related changes in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, neuro-cognitive, and other body systems.
• Identify equipment malfunctions and notify appropriate personnel; schedule and perform routine equipment maintenance.
• Work with clinical staff, research scientists, and administrative staff to maintain smooth facility operations.
• Standardize and maintain quality control of procedures.
• Log all scans performed; enter participant data and monitor data acquisition during scanning.
• Maintain monthly statistical data for MRI scans.
• Generate reports on data collection, analyses, and manuscript preparation.
• Contribute to research papers; draft sections, edit, and format manuscripts using reference software.
• Prepare tables and figures for manuscripts and presentations.
• Participate in meetings, stay abreast of the latest techniques, and pursue required training.
• Coordinate full-time and PRN MRI Technologists; prepare schedules for shift coverage and vacations; conduct training on new and existing MRI research protocols.
• Assist postdoctoral research fellows in developing new research protocols.
• Work with clinical research coordinators (CRCs) and clinical unit staff on scheduling MRI pilot protocol participants.
• Report research outcomes and make recommendations for future work.
• Organize and document study findings, procedures, and changes for future reference.
• Integrate neuroimaging data with other datasets; process information for data input and analysis.
• Manage data from collection through transfer and analysis; ensure accuracy of data storage, efficiency of data transfer, backup, and statistical analysis.
• Perform post-processing of acquired images and data as specified by study investigators.
• Ensure scans requiring clinical reading are transferred to PACS; follow up with radiologists to obtain signed reports within 48 hours and upload them to PACS.
• Work with postbaccalaureate researchers and postdoctoral fellows on 31P data collection in the MRI suite.
• Provide guidance to junior research assistants and train junior technicians and fellows in neuropsychological testing during PET and fMRI scans, as well as evolving neuroimaging techniques and data analysis procedures.
• Receive and provide proper sign-out from/to PRN technologists; perform appropriate checks to ensure integrity of data, hardware, software, and facility environment.
• Attend monthly clinical unit staff meetings to report MRI protocol progress and issues.
• Maintain and ensure accuracy, organization, processing, and analysis of neuroimaging and associated data.