The University of Iowa Health Care, Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation's Biomechanics Lab is seeking undergraduate research assistants to support ongoing grant-funded research projects.
This position is based in a collaborative research environment working alongside faculty, staff, and fellow research assistants from both clinical and engineering backgrounds.
This position is for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during the summer. Candidates must be able to manage their schedules effectively and work both independently and as part of a team.
Duties for the position include:
- Assisting with research activities following protocols established by principal investigators and lab staff
- Segmenting medical imaging data and generating surface models
- Performing biomechanical analyses, including calculation of contact stresses
- Planning and organizing daily research activities to support ongoing projects
- Collecting, tracking, and entering data; performing basic data analysis
- Preparing materials, graphs, and visualizations for reports and presentations
- Reviewing scientific literature and assisting with preparation of bibliographies and abstracts
- Tracking research project progress and supporting reporting efforts
- Assisting with additional tasks as assigned to support lab goals
Required Qualifications include:
- Current undergraduate student pursuing a degree in Biomedical Engineering or a related engineering discipline with interest in biomedical research
- Junior or Senior academic standing
- Minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines
- Effective written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to follow detailed instructions and research protocols
- Ability to work both independently and within a collaborative team environment
Desired Qualifications include:
- Experience with MATLAB or similar computational tools
- Experience with CAD or related software
- Exposure to biomechanical device design or analysis
- Experience generating technical reports or research documentation
- Ability to critically assess scientific literature or research findings
This position is only open to undergraduate students registered at an accredited institution. This position is open to UIowa students (S928) or non-UIowa students (PZ07), from which one will be hired.
To apply for the position, please send a resume to Mike Lucas at michael-lucas-1@uiowa.edu. A cover letter is not required but is highly encouraged. Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the date the posting closes.
Successful candidates will be subject to a criminal background check.
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, religion, associational preference, status as a qualified individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran.
University of Iowa
May 29, 2026