Technical Director - Preclinical Imaging Core

at University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas, United States

Job Description

• Direct the day-to-day scientific and technical operations of the PISR under the supervision of the PISR Director.
• Develop, optimize, validate, and maintain advanced preclinical imaging protocols.
• Provide expert consultation to investigators regarding selection of imaging modalities, experimental design, longitudinal study design, quantitative endpoints, and image analysis.
• Develop reproducible quantitative imaging workflows and imaging biomarkers.
• Promote integration of MRI, micro-CT, optical imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and other complementary imaging technologies.
• Evaluate emerging imaging technologies and recommend strategic implementation within the PISR.

• Supervise PISR postdoctoral fellows and other scientific or technical personnel as assigned by the PISR Director.
• Coordinate day-to-day scientific activities and establish priorities for PISR staff.
• Train graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, research staff, faculty investigators, and other authorized users in imaging methodologies and appropriate instrument operation.
• Ensure that users demonstrate appropriate competency before independent instrument use where applicable.
• Foster a collaborative, rigorous, service-oriented environment within the Shared Resource.

• Oversee scientific operation, performance monitoring, and routine quality assurance of PISR imaging instrumentation.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for imaging systems and experimental workflows.
• Troubleshoot technical problems and coordinate with institutional personnel, manufacturers, and service engineers when necessary.
• Maintain documentation of instrument performance, maintenance, calibration, and quality-control procedures.
• Participate in planning for equipment upgrades, new instrumentation, software implementation, and facility expansion.
• Assist the PISR Director with strategic planning for future imaging capabilities.

• Lead technical implementation and validation of next-generation MRI capabilities, including the forthcoming 18.8 Tesla MRI platform.
• Develop and optimize high-field and ultra-high-field MRI protocols for preclinical applications.
• Establish reproducible workflows for quantitative and longitudinal MRI.
• Facilitate integration of MRI and NMR spectroscopy with optical imaging, micro-CT, photoacoustic imaging, and other complementary technologies.
• Support development of advanced image reconstruction, quantitative analysis, and AI-assisted imaging pipelines.

• Meet with investigators to define imaging objectives and develop technically rigorous experimental plans.
• Support interdisciplinary cancer research involving tumor biology, therapeutic response, immunotherapy, drug delivery, pharmacokinetics, and related areas.
• Participate in collaborative NIH-, DoD-, NSF-, foundation-, and industry-funded research projects.
• Assist investigators in developing imaging components of grant applications, including experimental design, feasibility assessment, methodology, and resource descriptions.
• Contribute scientific expertise to manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and other scholarly products arising from PISR-supported research.
• Participate in collaborative research leading to development of new imaging technologies and methodologies.

• Oversee and participate in imaging studies involving murine and other approved preclinical disease models.
• Ensure appropriate procedures for animal preparation, anesthesia, physiological monitoring, recovery, and longitudinal imaging.
• Ensure that imaging activities are conducted in accordance with approved IACUC protocols, institutional biosafety requirements, and applicable University and Cancer Center policies.
• Maintain required institutional training and ensure that supervised personnel maintain appropriate training and compliance.

• Assist the PISR Director in developing and implementing operational policies for the Shared Resource.
• Help coordinate instrument access, project prioritization, training, and efficient utilization of PISR resources.
• Monitor technical aspects of ongoing projects and identify potential operational or scientific barriers.
• Participate in preparation of Shared Resource reports, Cancer Center Support Grant documentation, instrumentation proposals, and other institutional reporting as requested by the PISR Director.
• Participate in PISR advisory activities and interactions with institutional leadership, collaborators, donors, and external stakeholders as appropriate.
• Represent the PISR at scientific meetings, institutional committees, seminars, and other professional activities when requested by the PISR Director.
• Contribute to maintaining the PISR as a state-of-the-art, scientifically rigorous, collaborative imaging resource supporting the research mission of the University of Kansas Cancer Center.

• Ph.D. (or equivalent) in Biomedical Engineering, Medical Physics, Imaging Science, Physics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering, Neuroscience, Cancer Biology, or a closely related discipline.

• Three (3) years of experience in preclinical biomedical imaging and research that includes all of the following areas:
  • Experience that requires expertise in preclinical biomedical imaging, with significant experience in at least one advanced imaging modality.
  • Experience designing, conducting, and analyzing preclinical imaging studies.
  • Experience that required the capability to operate and troubleshoot sophisticated biomedical imaging instrumentation.
  • Experience working with small-animal models and familiarity with animal preparation, anesthesia, physiological monitoring, and longitudinal imaging studies.

• Preclinical MRI experience, particularly high-field or ultra-high-field MRI
• Experience with Bruker MRI systems and ParaVision
• Experience with MRI pulse sequence development, optimization, and troubleshooting
• Experience with Quantitative MRI and development of imaging biomarkers
• Experience with Micro-CT
• Experience in Optical imaging
• Experience in Photoacoustic imaging
• Experience with PET or SPECT
• Experience with multimodal image registration and quantitative image analysis
• Experience with Artificial intelligence or machine learning for biomedical imaging
• Experience using Python, MATLAB, C++, or related scientific programming environments
• Experience with cancer biology, immunology, drug development, or neuroscience applications of imaging
• Experience in management or operation of a shared research resource or biomedical imaging facility
• Experience in the development of standard operating procedures, quality assurance programs, and reproducible imaging workflows
• Experience with Collaborative NIH-, DoD-, NSF-, or other federally funded research
• Experience with preparation of instrumentation or research grant applications

• Communication
• Collaboration
• Leadership
• Organization