Research Associate

Responsibilities

• Perform in vitro remineralization testing on enamel and dentin under established protocols, including setting up controlled demineralization/remineralization challenges and mineral-uptake, surface, and cross-sectional measurements.
• Prepare reagents and solutions (artificial saliva, demineralizing and remineralizing solutions) and follow standard operating procedures accurately, ensuring reproducibility.
• Carry out routine data collection and recording, organize and document results, and support data summaries for internal R&D and the parent-company team.
• Prepare hard-tissue and material specimens to imaging-ready quality (sectioning, mounting, grinding, and polishing), and operate and maintain laboratory instruments, assisting and performing advanced characterization (e.g., SEM, EDS, MicroCT) on shared instrumentation at the University of Michigan campus.
• Contribute to laboratory quality and safety, including SDS and chemical management, instrument upkeep, and maintaining a clean, organized, and compliant work area.

Qualifications

• B.S. or M.S. in materials science, chemistry, biomedical engineering, or a related field and 3+ years of relevant hands-on work experience in a laboratory environment.
• Required Skills:
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including scientific report writing.
  • Hands-on experience in an experimental laboratory setting, with rigorous attention to protocol, reproducibility, and safety.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a small, multidisciplinary team.
  • Metallographic specimen preparation (sectioning, mounting, grinding, polishing).
  • Experience with hard-tissue specimen handling.
  • Meticulous record keeping.
• Preferred Skills:
  • SEM, FIB, EDS, TEM, time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS).
  • MicroCT Analysis.
  • Spectroscopy background knowledge.
  • Experience with hard-tissue specimen handling.