Summary

The Research Operations Lead will be primarily responsible for project management and execution of TRISH’s spaceflight research program, EXPAND (Enhancing eXploration Platforms and ANalog Definition).

The ideal candidate will have a profound knowledge of project management and understand the challenges related to executing biomedical projects in a resource-poor environment such as the spaceflight environment or austere and remote environments on Earth. This role will report to TRISH’s Chief Engineer.

For more information, please visit: https://www.bcm.edu/academic-centers/space-medicine/translational-research-institute/research/commercial-spaceflight

Job Duties

• Oversees, manages, plans, and executes EXPAND daily operational research program within space and Earth-based analog settings to meet research objectives schedule.
• Coordinates a cohort of principal investigators, commercial spaceflight operators, and support staff to enable and carry out data collection and research studies.
• Evaluates hardware/software to ensure quality/safety to best execute EXPAND data collection activities.
• Manages procedures/training protocols and ongoing review to facilitate EXPAND data collection activities.
• Oversees/ensures regulatory compliance with Institutional Review Board (IRB) guidelines as well as federal and international laws protecting the privacy and confidentiality of human subject data.
• Develops procedures/training protocols and ongoing review to facilitate EXPAND data collection activities
• Performs study data collection pre- and post-flight at commercial launch provider facilities or flight landing sites in Florida or other states
• Supervises the EXPAND program’s budget including monitoring expenditures and ensuring that the budget is in line with expectations and NASA allocations.
• Works collaboratively with other program partners and with increasing frequency closer to scheduled launches.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of the EXPAND program and the TRISH Science Office including reviewing proposals, monitoring science project progress, attending weekly meetings, etc.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Six years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in science, technology, engineering, medicine, or technology is highly desired.
• Master’s degree in a STEM field is preferred.
• Strong technical and operational background.
• Seven or more years of experience planning and executing experiments and projects within resource-poor environments such as space, underserved areas on Earth, or another relevant austere settings.
• Demonstrated experience managing research studies.
• Experience in the space industry is preferred, but not required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS operating systems.
• Self-starter, ambitious, and driven to plan and execute projects.
• Strong communicator in written and oral skills.
• Comfortable sharing highly technical content with expert and lay audiences.
• Open-minded, agile, and flexible problem-solver.
• Highly organized planner with focus on attention to details.
• Effective working in a hybrid work environment.

Additional Requirements

• Approximately 10-15% domestic and potentially international travel is required (approximately once every other month)
• Substantial travel may occur on short notice and must be accommodated
• Hybrid work is available but must be based in the Greater Houston area
• Periodic in-person meetings at NASA Johnson Space Center are required
• Applicants must be US citizens or US green card holders