Explosive Operator Researcher

Walter Reed Army Institute of Research is the Department of Defense’s premier organization conducting basic and applied research to promote psychological resilience, neurological functioning, and operational readiness among Service Members. The goal is to reduce the mortality and morbidity resulting from mild to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI) occurring in military-centric environments and across the spectrum of acute to chronic post-injury recovery periods. See www.wrair.army.mil for more information.The opportunity will be carried out in both the Infectious Disease Research Center and the Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience Center under the mentorship of the director for science education.

This research opportunity is to preserve and further develop the subject matter expertise (SME) and research continuity within our blast overpressure field study program. The participant will collaboratively participate in a research team that together will characterize operator exposures to blast in training environments to ascertain effects of blast exposure on physiological status, cognitive performance, and symptom reporting. In this capacity, the participant will design studies and collaboratively participate in the collection, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of data. In conjunction with the supervising mentor, the appointee will also serve as a liaison to our operational cohorts around the world. This research effort is ongoing and needs to continue uninterrupted to preserve relationships with collaborators and stakeholders and to avoid loss of knowledge and expertise that is essential for this research mission. This will add as a career development factor for the participant, as it will serve as a great opportunity for the participant to network and engage with stakeholders as it applies to STEM.

It is fully anticipated that the multi-faceted experiences associated with this research project will provide technical educational growth along with enhanced career opportunities. Injuries and impairments resulting from exposures to blast or repeated blasts are high visibility concerns to the US military about which little is currently defined. This research project will provide tremendous opportunity to discover and document the etiology of Warfighter-relevant blast perturbations, formulating and testing data-driven hypotheses which in turn can yield continued career opportunities as a senior researcher at a DOD lab or university. Additionally, through the interactions with collaborators, stakeholders and policy-makers in the DOD, the visibility associated with this opportunity provides an opportunity for the participant to be distinguished as an authority on blast and blast injuries, which can translate into career opportunities as a future program manager and policy-maker addressing this Warfighter threat.

This appointment is a twelve month research appointment, with the possibility to be renewed for additional research periods. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant.

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by WRAIR. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location. Other benefits may include the following:

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOD, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.