Rice360 Director of Technology Development

About the Role

The Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies at Rice University seeks a Director of Technology Development to lead the institute’s technology portfolio strategy and manage the technology development team, including the Global Health Fellows (GHF) cohort. The role provides strategic R&D leadership across needs finding, design, prototyping, testing, clinical evaluation, transition to manufacture, regulatory approval, commercial launch, and reporting, especially for the NEST360 project in sub‑Saharan Africa.

Essential Functions

• Lead and supervise research projects, providing expertise and guidance in experimental design and methodology.
• Conduct complex experiments, analyze data using advanced techniques, and interpret results to derive meaningful conclusions.
• Collaborate effectively with cross‑functional teams to contribute scientific insights and develop innovative research strategies.
• Publish research findings in reputable journals, prepare technical reports, and present results at conferences or seminars.
• Mentor and support junior researchers, providing guidance and fostering a collaborative research environment.
• Stay abreast of the latest advancements, technologies, and methodologies relevant to the field of expertise.
• Ensure compliance with safety regulations and ethical standards in all research activities.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

Other Functions

• Lead, in partnership with Rice360 co‑directors, strategic planning and development of the GHF program technology portfolio, including:
  • Identifying new project opportunities.
  • Coordinating the setting of technology development goals and deadlines.
  • Setting technical direction, approach, and decision‑making for projects.
  • Synchronizing plans for clinical evaluation of projects.
• Provide oversight and leadership to the GHF cohort, including:
  • Managing day‑to‑day activities of the cohort.
  • Leading weekly GHF project meetings.
  • Guiding fellows on technology development in coordination with the chief designer and chief electronics designer.
  • Assisting fellows in finding outside expertise when needed.
  • Supporting fellows’ scheduling and preparation for clinical trials and partner site visits, coordinating with the IRB administrator.
  • Facilitating best practices in data collection and management.
  • Providing guidance on data analysis, documentation, and synthesis of results.
  • Advising on planning, editing, and refining presentations, documentation, and papers.
  • Tracking fellows’ progress against milestones, recommending contingency plans, prioritizing decisions, and troubleshooting issues.
  • Overseeing fellows’ communication with external partners to advance technologies toward commercialization.
• Administer the GHF program, including:
  • Reviewing and revising program policies, onboarding, and training materials.
  • Coordinating recruitment, application review, interviews, selection, and hiring of new fellows.
  • Conducting onboarding of new fellows in coordination with finance and operations.
  • Assisting with featuring technologies during Rice360 visitor tours.
  • Supporting undergraduate engagement, mentoring, and arranging interns as needed.
  • Contributing to periodic technical reporting to granting agencies and sponsors, ensuring timely submissions.
  • May teach a course, seminar, or workshop.

Minimum Requirements

• PhD or other doctoral degree in engineering.
• Four (4) years of postdoctoral experience in project management, technology development, or a closely related field.
• In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education on an equivalent year‑for‑year basis may be substituted.

Preferred Qualifications

• Eight (8) years or more of related experience in project management, technology development, or a closely related field.
• Experience with engineering project management and R&D team leadership.
• Experience designing medical technology for maternal and neonatal health and/or cancer in low‑resource settings.
• Experience transitioning technologies from R