School of Medicine Established in 1930, Duke University School of Medicine is the youngest of the nation's top medical schools. Ranked sixth among medical schools in the nation, the School takes pride in being an inclusive community of outstanding learners, investigators, clinicians, and staff where interdisciplinary collaboration is embraced and great ideas accelerate translation of fundamental scientific discoveries to improve human health locally and around the globe. Composed of more than 2,500 faculty physicians and researchers, more than 1,300 students, and more than 6,000 staff, the Duke University School of Medicine along with the Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System and the Private Diagnostic Clinic (PDC) comprise Duke Health. a world-class academic medical center. The Health System encompasses Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional Hospital, Duke Raleigh Hospital, Duke Primary Care, Duke Home and Hospice, Duke Health and Wellness, and multiple affiliations.

Duke University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of our academic community.

Position:

Full-Time Research Associate in the laboratory of Dr. Laura Barisoni, Professor of Pathology and Medicine, Department of Pathology, Division of AI and Computational Pathology, and Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology at Duke University Medical Center, in collaboration with Dr. Kyle Lafata, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiology and Radiation Oncology, and Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Job Description:

The Computational Image analysis team led by Dr Barisoni and Lafata aims to advance existing imaging techniques and develop novel computational methods that are highly relevant to renal diseases. Specifically, the research associate will work on problems related to both nephrotic syndrome and kidney transplantation. The research associate is expected to be able to work with some degree of independence and will conduct these research activities under the guidance of Dr. Barisoni (Pathology & Nephology) and Dr. Lafata (Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Electrical and Computer Engineering) in preparation for a research career in academia or industry. The associate will also be co-mentored by other Ph.D. and M.D. faculty with extensive technical experience in various areas related to machine learning, deep learning, clinical pathology, medical image analysis, etc.

The initial appointment will be for 1 year, full-time, with opportunities for extension based on funding. We are looking for a highly motivated individual who has practical experience with machine learning, image analysis, and their integration. Applicants should have experience developing data processing/wrangling algorithms, applying both conventional and machine learning techniques as well as different deep learning architectures, and implementing multiple algorithms in parallel and in series. The research associate may also be expected to apply the principles of software engineering to the design, development, maintenance, testing, and evaluation of digital pathology software for both research and clinical applications, depending on qualifications.

The Research Associate’s responsibilities include the following primary duties and functions:

• Collection and management of research data
• Pre-processing of Whole Slide Images and DICOM images
• Development of image processing and computational pathology algorithms, including deep learning formalisms
• Development of user interfaces for other team members to use, that facilitate efficient research operations.
• Ability to provide technical support and training to clinical team members.
• Improve operations by conducting systems analysis and determining operational feasibility when developing scientific projects.
• Develop and optimize web-style tools for the segmentation, quality control, and interrogation of digital pathology images. In all instances, extensive validation of the tools is needed to ensure they are suitable for use by laypeople (i.e., testing, identifying, and addressing bugs) as well as the evaluation of the tools in the context of performing a series of experiments for publications. Provides information by collecting, analyzing, and summarizing development and service issues. 
• Participate in strategy and planning meetings with the research team to ascertain the needs and actions associated with the research projects and the associated research goals.
• Write reports including conclusions drawn from the research findings. 
• Interact with undergraduate and graduate students to help them utilize the tools being created in the assigned project and receive their feedback when the tools are evaluated.
• Update job knowledge by studying state-of-the-art development tools, programming techniques, and computing equipment. Participate in educational opportunities, read professional publications, maintain personal networks, and participate in professional organizations.

Minimum qualifications:

• A PhD in computer science, math, engineering or a related field and three years of related experience in programming and software systems or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• Knowledge of image analysis in the setting of a research institution context preferred.

Working Conditions:

The working conditions are typical of an office environment and computer rooms. There will be no exposure to hazards. The work requires negligible physical exertion, however, limited manual dexterity is required.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative and level of the types of duties and responsibilities that will be required of positions given this title and shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this

Minimum Qualifications
Education

See job description for education requirements.

Experience

See job description for requirements.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.