Plastic, Reconstructive & Burn Surgery Research, Department of Surgery, SOM (F80610)

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

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