Medical Research Specialist (Remote Role)

About the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Industry: Non-profit organization

The Physicians Committee’s Mission & Vision: The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine is dedicated to saving and improving human and animal lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. Our vision is to create a healthier world through a new emphasis on plant-based nutrition, and scientific research conducted ethically, without using animals.

The Physicians Committee’s Values

• Compassion: We encourage compassion for people and animals.
• Health: We promote good health through good nutrition. We practice what we preach by having a vegan office environment, ongoing nutrition education, and a culture that supports health and wellness.
• Truth: We base our recommendations on evidence, not on biases or what is commonly accepted.
• Professionalism: We hold our work to the highest standards, down to the last detail. This shows up in our scientific publications, our campaign work, and our public communications, and also in our appearance, our work ethic, how we keep our workspaces and take care of our resources, our focus on professional development, and the courtesies we extend to others.
• Action: We speak out against unhealthful, dangerous and unethical practices. We push limits and persevere.
• Innovation: We bring new approaches to solving problems and continually seek ways to be more effective. We are not afraid to take risks.
• Urgency: Our problems are urgent, and so are our responses. We stay alert to issues that need our attention and stay in close touch with one another and with our members and partners so we’re able to take immediate action whenever necessary.
• Dedication: This is a cause, not just a job. We go the extra mile to bring about a healthier, more compassionate world.
• Collaboration: Working together, everyone achieves more. We collaborate with each other, with our members, and with other organizations.
• Positivity: We approach our work with optimism. We plan with the end in mind and envision success.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Organization-Size: Approximately 100 employees.

Employee Benefits: Primary health & financial benefits:

• Health insurance with 100% of the deductible and 75% of the premium paid by the Physicians Committee for full-time employees.
• Dental insurance available at a group discount.
• 403(b) retirement savings plan with matching contribution of $0.50 per dollar up to 6% of salary.
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses which allows paying for some expenses on a pre-tax basis.
• Pre-tax purchase of metro fare.
• Long-term disability income protection insurance and life insurance fully paid for by the Physicians Committee.
• 20 days of paid time off to start plus 14 paid holidays.

Learn More About the Physicians Committee: We invite you to visit our website at PCRM.org and our YouTube channel.

About the Role

Position Title/Job Function: Medical Research Specialist

Position Objective: The Medical Research Specialist will carry out policy, scientific, and outreach activities related to the reduction and replacement of animals in biomedical research.

About the Research and Regulatory Affairs Team: The Physicians Committee’s Research and Regulatory Affairs team is composed of experts in human-focused research, education, and testing methods. We collaborate with government and academic scientists to promote and develop those methods in order to improve human health and replace the use of animals. We engage with grassroots advocates, legislators, and the media to achieve this.

Essential Functions

Reduce and replace animals and animal-derived research tools in medical research

• Determine and implement changes to guidance, policies, programs, and practices to facilitate increased prioritization and funding of nonanimal research and clinical research, and decreased prioritization and funding of animal research by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other funding bodies.
• Understand NIH policies, programs, practices, planning, budgeting, and operations.
• Assist in implementing strategies to address animal methods bias and other barriers to broader uptake of nonanimal methods.
• Assist in forming coalitions with multiple stakeholder groups for research advocacy.
• Identify opportunities to write or present public comments to relevant agencies and lead collaborative submissions as appropriate.
• Assist in Congressional lobbying activities and in crafting policy positions and materials.

Promote the promise and value of human-based research, and the insufficiencies of research using animals, to scientists, lawmakers, agencies, and the general public

• Draft op-eds, letters to the editor, and other publications for a lay audience and assist communications department in developing traditional and social media packages.
• Produce relevant background materials for Physicians Committee campaigns and initiatives.
• Attend and present at relevant scientific conferences.
• Assist in planning and executing outreach and education events for early career scientists.
• Organize workshops, symposia, roundtables, and other meetings for scientists, advocacy groups, and research resource developers to overcome identified barriers to replacing animal use.

Position the Physicians Committee as a trusted expert on human-based research methods and animal methods bias

• Identify and pursue areas of potential collaboration with key figures within federal regulatory agencies, scientific and medical professional organizations, patient and education advocacy groups and private industry to promote human-relevant research approaches, infrastructure, and training and implement animal methods bias mitigation strategies.
• Conduct primary research on animal methods bias.
• Author peer-reviewed articles (e.g., primary research, reviews, perspectives, and workshop reports), policy recommendations, breaking research synopses, and commentaries and edit textbooks promoting human-relevant research methods and strategies for overcoming barriers to broader uptake of nonanimal methods.
• Develop nonanimal research resources (e.g., white papers and online databases) for promotion by the Physicians Committee.
• Represent Physicians Committee, including as a spokesperson, to a variety of audiences including staff the National Institute of Health (NIH), on Capitol Hill, the public, the press, and our membership.

Supervisory Responsibilities: None.

Required Physical Abilities: Office work; ability to travel; ability to deliver presentations.

Work Location: This position may be performed remotely from any location in the United States. The Physicians Committee is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

Required Travel: Travel on a quarterly basis is required for Physicians Committee, NIH and Congressional meetings, conferences, etc.

Work Schedule: This is a full-time exempt position (40+ hours per week). The Physicians Committee’s core business hours are 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, ET.

Position Level: The position level for this role is Specialist.

Salary: A salary offer will take into consideration education, experience, and skills along with internal and external reference points. Candidates are encouraged to discuss salary with a position’s hiring manager early in the interview process to ensure alignment.

Specialist Level

• Minimum Salary: $70,000
• Median Salary: $79,457

Reports To

• Supervisor: Medical Research Program Manager
• Department Director: Director of Research Policy

Qualifications

Education

• Required: Doctoral degree in biomedical science or a related field.
• Preferred:

Credentials

• Required: None
• Preferred: None

Work Experience

• Required: Minimum of 5 years of research experience.
• Preferred: Experience with promoting alternatives to the use of animals in biomedical research.

Additional Qualities

• Required:
• Preferred:

How to Apply

Application Materials: We require a formal cover letter and resume to apply. In your cover letter, please tell us about your interest in our mission, your related experience and accomplishments, and your professional goals. You may also be asked to respond in writing to screening questions.

Application Deadline: Applications are being accepted on a rolling basis.

Application Link:  Click here to apply online.

For More Information: Contact the Physicians Committee’s human resources department at careers [at] pcrm.org (careers[at]pcrm[dot]org).

Application Process

• Step 1: 30-minute phone interview with Medical Research Program Manager.
• Step 2: 30-minute video interview with Medical Research Program Manager, Director of Medical Research, and Research and Regulatory Affairs Department Director.
• Step 3: 2-hour remote sample project.
• Step 4: 1-hour video interview with Research and Regulatory Affairs Department team members to discuss the sample project and other topics.
• Step 5: 15-minute video interview with PCRM President, Dr. Neal Barnard.
• Step 6: Reference checks with the three most recent direct supervisors.