How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

We help people live better with liver disease. We are a rapidly growing, highly funded liver disease research program, backed by multiple multi-year federal and foundation grants and will be launching a new Center for Integrative Health. We're looking for a Research Area Specialist Lead (or Senior, underfill) to be the operational backbone of that growth - the person who builds and trains the teams, safeguards research integrity, and keeps an ambitious, interdisciplinary portfolio moving in the same direction. If you're energized by the idea of standing up new teams, translating big scientific vision into working systems, and shaping how a center operates from day one, this role was built for you

The individual who takes on this position will be a senior individual contributor and operational leader within a well-funded liver disease research program, working in close collaboration with the Principal Investigator and other senior faculty. They will be responsible for the administrative, financial, personnel, regulatory, and planning aspects of a multi-project research portfolio, and will play a central role in building and training new research teams and in launching the Center for Integrative Health.

Reporting to the Principal Investigator, this position exercises substantial independent judgment and decision-making authority, coordinates research activities across disciplines, ensures regulatory and compliance excellence, and contributes scientific expertise to the design, conduct, and dissemination of research. The role is ideal for a seasoned research professional ready to lead operations at scale during a period of significant program expansion.

Responsibilities*

• Responsible for the day to day operations of a specialized center within a department or research program
• Manages all phases of complex research projects with the PI
• Works directly with the principal investigator on the development and the implementation of the research plan and development of research goals.
• Expected to write significant portions of research reports to funders (e.g RPPR)
• Coordinates development of research goals and project design and procedure
• Functional and administrative supervision over the personnel in the Center
• Expected to take a leadership position in the laboratory, assess the operations and make decisions about the direction and performance of the research work
• Perform project management tasks including, but not limited to, coordinating activities with other groups across campus, funding agencies, and external collaborators.
• Personnel management. Provide supervision to students and research staff, including training and oversight for participant recruitment, data collection, analyses, and community engagement
• Collaborate with research group leadership on long-range project planning, grant writing and budget monitoring
• Prepare research documents, including IRB/data use agreements

Required Qualifications*

Research Area Specialist Lead:

• Master's degree in recognized field of science or learning which is directly related to the duties of the position
• 6 or more years research experience directly applicable to this position.

Research Area Specialist Senior:

• Bachelor's degree in recognized field of science or learning which is directly related to the duties of the position
• 5-6 years related experience

Both:

• Ability to handle multiple demands simultaneously, work independently and as a member of a team.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and orally.
• Experience preparing IRB applications and amendments.
• Experience in RedCap coding, query making

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes .

Underfill Statement

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

Job Detail

Job Opening ID

281191

Working Title

Research Area Specialist Lead (underfill senior)

Job Title

Research Area Specialist Lead

Work Location

Ann Arbor Campus

Ann Arbor, MI

Modes of Work

Hybrid

Full/Part Time

Full-Time

Regular/Temporary

Regular

FLSA Status

Exempt

Organizational Group

Medical School

Department

MM Int Med-Gastroenterology

Posting Begin/End Date

8/04/2026 - 8/18/2026

Career Interest

Research