Pediatric Research Scientist

Job Title: Research Scientist (PhD)
Location: House Center for Pediatric Hearing Health Research, Los Angeles, CA
Job Status: Full Time

Overview

The House Institute Foundation (HIF) is seeking one full-time research scientist (level 1 or 2) for a 3-year renewable contract position in the new Pediatric Hearing Health Research Center. The research center is co-located within the House Children’s Hearing Center (HCHC) in downtown Los Angeles, California. The research scientist will provide leadership in the development of the Pediatric Hearing Health Research Center. Through a collaborative process, we have identified areas of interest for the research center. These include the development of family and individual level interventions that address hearing health disparities in access and outcomes; the impact of cochlear implants and hearing aids on behavior and speech development; and translational research in partnership with clinician scientists at the House Ear Clinic including genetics and proteomics. A strong candidate will have research expertise in one or more of these areas.

The research scientist will:

• Contribute to HIF’s mission, specifically by improving the quality of life for deaf and hard of hearing children through research
• Establish and maintain high-quality, collaborative research
• Publish in high-impact peer-reviewed scientific journals
• Obtain external funding supporting at least 50% of base salary within 3 years
• Leverage funding opportunities to support research program staff salaries
• Provide leadership in the development of the Pediatric Hearing Health Research Center
• Participate in the HIF research committee and other committees as needed

About HIF: 

Founded in 1946, the House Institute Foundation has been at the forefront of advancements in hearing health for the past 75 years. Our seminal contributions to prevention, treatment, education, research, and humanitarian efforts exemplify our threefold mission of hearing and neuroscience research, education, and global hearing health, “so all may hear.”

The Institute is named for Dr. Howard P. House, a pioneering Otologist who, along with his brother Dr. William “Bill” House, is responsible for some of the earliest work in the world toward development of surgery techniques, temporal bone research, the first standardized functional hearing test, and the first cochlear implant system.

The House Institute (including the name) has evolved over the decades. Distinct contributions and areas of emphasis characterize the generations of research and education. For example, research conducted at the Institute led to workplace noise regulations, pioneering work on auditory brainstem implants and in partnership with 3M the development of the first FDA approved cochlear implant for adults and children. The contemporary focus is on translational research, grounded in and inspired by the patient-physician relationship. In 2018 the House Institute Foundation board hired an executive director, Jeremy Sidell, to further develop the Institute’s three program areas of research, education, and global hearing health. Since 2018 the House Institute has grown from three employees to 15.

Our current research program supports clinical trials and five research centers specializing in acoustic neuromas/ neurofibromatosis type 2, Meniere’s disease, auditory prosthesis, neurosurgery, and pediatric hearing health. In addition to the Director of Research Administration, the HIF research infrastructure includes two clinical research coordinators and a Hearing Science Accelerator (HSA) program coordinator. The coordinators provide support with IRB application and correspondence, recruiting and consenting participants, and data collection. The research program regularly engages talented undergraduates and consultants in extracting, cleaning, and building large datasets for secondary data analysis.

In July 2022 the HIF research program moved into a new space that includes private offices for research scientists, a sound booth dedicated to research, secure temperature-controlled storage, and workstations for research staff. The research program offices are co-located with the House Children’s Hearing Center and House Hearing Health Center (adult hearing aid clinic). Located in downtown Los Angeles, it is adjacent to the House Ear Clinic at the PIH Health Good Samaritan Hospital.

In addition to the administration of external funds (NIH and foundation), the research program releases requests for funding proposals that leverage the donations from grateful patients and sponsors to support high impact research. As good stewards of the funds, and with a focus on robust science, proposals over $20,000 are externally reviewed through a process that emulates the rigor of an NIH review.

Research Scientist level 1 qualified candidates must have:

• PhD, MD, AuD; 2 years post graduate work experience
• Past or current funds as a Co-Investigator (e.g., NIH R34, 21, 01)
• Record of successful publication
• Commitment to advancing HIF’s mission
• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team

Research Scientist level 1 salary range: $90,000-$119,900.

Research Scientist level 2 qualified candidates must have:

• PhD, MD, AuD; 5 years post graduate work experience
• Past or current funds as a Principal Investigator (e.g., NIH R34, 21, 01)
• Record of successful publication
• Commitment to advancing HIF’s mission
• Willingness to go above and beyond to contribute to the success of a dynamic team

Research Scientist level 2 salary range: $120,000-$150,000

Email the following documents to researchadmin@hifla.org:

• Cover letter indicating your interest in research scientist level 1 or 2 position

• CV

• Summary of past research, main interests, and future research goals

• Three letters of recommendation

• PDF(s) of significant scientific publications