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Posted January 31, 2024 Date: Jan 29, 2024 Title: Research Associate Department: Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering School: Case School of Engineering Location: Case Western Reserve University (Building/Room: TBD) Supervisor Name and Title: Ozan Akkus, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. POSITION OBJECTIVE Working under limited supervision and in close collaboration with the principal investigator and senior staff the Research Associate will carry out complex research assignments to design and prototype components of an artificial knee joint, as well as surgical jigs and fixtures to implant the joint. These activities will take place as part of a federally funded, fast-paced and milestone stone driven project that has dimensions in manufacturing, biomaterials, medical devices, and musculoskeletal tissue engineering. The Research Associate will work with the principal investigator, a fabrication engineer, a biomechanical test engineer and a technician along with on campus and off-campus partners. The Research Associate is expected to participate in a supportive lab culture and to contribute to oral and written communication of project findings such as progress reports, publications, and presentations. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS CAD design of components and component assemblies. (30%) Coordinate the prototyping of the artificial joint and associated surgical kits with other engineers and collaborators. Perform machining, prototyping and fabrication of designed components. Identify internal or external service providers and communicate the fabrication needs with them for certain parts as needed. (27%) Participate in and support the testing and validation of designed prototypes, inspect specimens to identify and mitigate failures modes, and provide cost estimates for design production. (10%) Identify solutions to improve production efficiency, and assess/troubleshoot risks associated with engineering prototypes. (6%) Survey literature to identify best practices, and develop protocols informed by past experience in the field. (6%) Generate, organize, and analyze collected data, and create tables and figures for discussion. Draft and maintain design records and documents. Draft technical progress reports, and standard operating procedure documents. (10%) Monitor the laboratory budget. Oversee lab inventory and supply orders as needed. (6%) NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS Assist with day-to day lab operations and maintenance (2%) Train new staff and direct work of technicians when needed (2%). Perform other duties as assigned. (1%) CONTACTS Department: Daily contact with supervisor, biomechanical engineer, fabrication engineer, or the technician to maintain workflow. University: Continuous contact with faculty, staff and research personnel at other departments for joint collaborative lab work and to share information. External: Weekly contact with vendors or external collaborators to exchange information and for experimental planning. Students: No contact with students SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES May supervise Research Assistants and Technicians in the group. QUALIFICATIONS Experience: Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering background. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in medical device design and prototyping experience. Also see required skills, below. Education/Licensing: A PhD or equivalent (in Mechanical or Biomedical Engineering or related fields) REQUIRED SKILLS Ability to work in a collaborative team environment, meet deadlines, manage and follow-through work from multiple individuals, manage and perform multiple tasks. Demonstrate attention to detail and accuracy, and flexibility to conform to shifting priorities, demands and timeline. Demonstrated expertise in biomedical/biomechanical design using software, such as Sol