Plastic, Reconstructive & Burn Surgery Research, Department of Surgery, SOM

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in
the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s
sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally
recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth
University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Surgery

Duties & Responsibilities:

The Department of Surgery at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU)
seeks a highly motivated Teaching & Research (T&R) Faculty
member to support the growth of research, education, and scholarly
activities within the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive &
Burn Surgery. This faculty member will contribute to the
development of a multidisciplinary research portfolio focused on
plastic and reconstructive surgery, burn care, tissue regeneration,
wound healing, surgical innovation, and related translational
research.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Division Chief,
faculty investigators, research staff, residents, fellows, and
multidisciplinary collaborators to develop and execute research
programs, support extramural funding initiatives, facilitate
clinical and translational research, and contribute to the
educational mission of the Department of Surgery.

A particular area of responsibility will include advanced MRI-based
research and imaging capabilities, including the development and
application of MRI methodologies to evaluate tissue structure,
wound healing, perfusion, fibrosis, muscle and soft-tissue injury,
reconstruction outcomes, and other clinically relevant
endpoints.

Research & Scholarly Activity

• Develop and maintain an independent and collaborative research

program aligned with the strategic priorities of the Division of
Plastic, Reconstructive & Burn Surgery

• Participate in multidisciplinary clinical, translational, and

outcomes research involving plastic surgery, reconstructive
surgery, burn care, wound healing, tissue engineering, and surgical
innovation

• Develop research protocols and contribute to study design,

methodology, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and
dissemination of findings

• Collaborate with surgeons, scientists, radiologists, engineers,

statisticians, and other investigators across VCU and external
institutions

• Identify and pursue extramural funding opportunities through

NIH, DoD, foundations, industry, and other appropriate
sponsors

• Contribute to development and submission of grant applications,

including NIH R-series, K-series, training grants, foundation
awards, and other competitive funding mechanisms

• Develop manuscripts, abstracts, presentations, and other

scholarly products for peer-reviewed publication and
national/international scientific meetings

• Mentor residents, fellows, medical students, research staff,

and junior investigators in research methodology and scholarly
development

• Contribute to the development of collaborative research

infrastructure and research priorities for the Division

MRI & Advanced Imaging Research

• Develop and apply MRI-based research methodologies relevant to

plastic, reconstructive, and burn surgery

• Utilize MRI to investigate tissue composition, soft-tissue

injury, wound healing, fibrosis, muscle injury,
vascularity/perfusion, edema, scar formation, and reconstructive
outcomes

• Develop imaging protocols and research methodologies in

collaboration with radiology, imaging scientists, physicists,
engineers, and clinical investigators

• Participate in MRI protocol development, image acquisition,

quality assurance, image processing, segmentation, and quantitative
imaging analysis

• Apply advanced MRI techniques, as appropriate to the research

program, including structural MRI, diffusion-based imaging,
perfusion imaging, quantitative tissue characterization, and other
emerging imaging methodologies

• Support development of imaging biomarkers and objective outcome

measures for reconstructive and burn research

• Integrate MRI findings with clinical, surgical, functional,

histologic, and other research endpoints

• Contribute to development of prospective imaging studies and

longitudinal imaging protocols

• Support the use of MRI as a translational research tool for

evaluating treatment response and surgical outcomes

• Collaborate with institutional imaging resources and research

cores to optimize MRI utilization for investigator-initiated
studies

Clinical & Translational Research

• Partner with Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery faculty to

expand the Division's clinical research portfolio

• Develop prospective and retrospective clinical studies

addressing reconstructive surgery, burn care, wound healing,
surgical outcomes, and quality improvement

• Support development of databases, registries, biorepositories,

and longitudinal research cohorts

• Translate laboratory and imaging findings into clinically

relevant research questions and applications

• Participate in multidisciplinary research initiatives involving

trauma, oncology, vascular surgery, radiology, rehabilitation,
biomedical engineering, and other relevant disciplines

• Contribute to development of innovative research approaches

that improve patient outcomes and reconstructive care

Teaching & Education

• Participate in the teaching and mentorship of medical students,

residents, fellows, and graduate students

• Develop and deliver lectures, small-group sessions, laboratory

instruction, research seminars, and other educational
activities

• Incorporate research findings, imaging methodologies, and

evidence-based practices into surgical education

• Mentor trainees in research design, scientific writing,

abstract development, presentations, and grant preparation

• Support resident and fellow scholarly activity and facilitate

opportunities for trainees to participate in research projects

• Participate in departmental and divisional educational

conferences as appropriate

Research Program Development

• Work with the Division Chief and Departmental research

leadership to establish measurable research goals and
priorities

• Build collaborative relationships with investigators within

VCU, VCU Health, and external academic and industry partners

• Contribute to development of multidisciplinary research

programs in reconstructive surgery, burn care, wound healing,
tissue regeneration, and surgical innovation

• Identify opportunities for shared funding, collaborative

grants, clinical trials, industry partnerships, and sponsored
research

• Support development of research infrastructure necessary to

expand the Division's national research profile

• Participate in departmental research committees, grant review

activities, research seminars, and other scholarly initiatives

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• MD, DO, PhD, MD/PhD, or other terminal degree appropriate to

the faculty appointment

• Demonstrated research experience in plastic surgery,

reconstructive surgery, burn care, biomedical science, imaging,
tissue engineering, or a closely related discipline

• Demonstrated record of scholarly activity, including

peer-reviewed publications, presentations, or other research
contributions

• Experience developing or participating in clinical,

translational, or basic science research

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multidisciplinary

research teams

• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated interest in teaching and mentorship

Preferred Qualifications

• Research experience directly related to plastic and

reconstructive surgery, burn research, wound healing, tissue
regeneration, or surgical innovation

• Demonstrated experience with MRI or advanced medical imaging

research

• Experience developing MRI research protocols and/or

quantitative imaging methodologies

• Experience with image processing, segmentation, quantitative

imaging, or imaging biomarker development

• Experience integrating imaging data with clinical or

experimental research outcomes

• Experience with prospective clinical research, clinical trials,

registries, or translational research

• Demonstrated success or developing record of extramural

funding

• Experience mentoring residents, fellows, medical students,

graduate students, or research personnel

• Experience collaborating across clinical, scientific,

engineering, and imaging disciplines

Salary Range: $120,000 - $135,000

Benefits : All VCU employee types are eligible for a wide
array of benefits to support you during your employment at VCU.
Consult the benefits website
for information on benefits eligibility according to employee
type.

FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt

Restricted: Yes

ORP Eligible: Yes

Rank: Open

Tenure: Open

Months: 12 months

Contact Information:
Contact Name: Mary Waite

Contact Email: Mary.Waite@vcuhealth.org