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“Scientific Career Opportunities in the Government and Military”

“Scientific Career Opportunities in the Government and Military”. Edward J. Zambraski, Ph.D., FACSM Chief, Military Performance Division US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine Natick, MA 01760-5007 edward.zambraski@us.army.mil (508) 233-5150. Background – E. Zambraski.

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“Scientific Career Opportunities in the Government and Military”

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  1. “Scientific Career Opportunities in the Government and Military” Edward J. Zambraski, Ph.D., FACSM Chief, Military Performance Division US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine Natick, MA 01760-5007 edward.zambraski@us.army.mil (508) 233-5150

  2. Background – E. Zambraski • 1976 Ph.D., University of Iowa “Exercise Physiology” • Research • Renal, cardiovascular, exercise physiology • 1976 – 2003 Rutgers University • Depts: Physiology →Biology → Physiology → Cell Biology / Neuroscience • Teaching: Physiology/Exercise Physiology • Research: Maintained an externally funded lab for 27 years • Renal nerves, Hypertension / cirrhosis, PG Renal Function, RAS • 2003 – Present: Chief (Chair), Military Performance Division, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, MA

  3. Three Perspectives • University Researcher/Teacher/Dept. Chair • Time demands of teaching and research • Competing for funds: NIH, private sector • APS: “Career Opportunity Committee” • Member and Chair for several years • US Government / Army: Civilian Scientist

  4. My “Career Transition” • Quite a bit beyond “mid-career” !! • The kind of environment I currently work in

  5. Mid-Career Transitions Fundamental Issues – Government Scientist • Are there jobs/positions? • Types of positions or skill sets required? • Similarities/contrasts to Academic positions

  6. Office of the Army Surgeon General Medical Command (MEDCOM) Medical Research & Materiel Command AMEDD Center & School Regional Medical Commands Dental Command Veterinary Command Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine. US Army Medical Department Organization Chart

  7. US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) • 20 miles west of Boston • Co-located with the Natick Soldier Center Natick Ideal location for collaboration: MIT, Harvard, BU, etc.

  8. US Army MRMC Research Med Chem Defense 15% Military Infectious Diseases 27% Military Infectious Diseases • Medical readiness • Vaccines • Biotechnology • Prophylaxis/treatment drugs • Diagnostics/prognostics • Vector control • Medical C4ISR • HIV countermeasures Combat Casualty Care 10% Med Bio Defense 31% Military Operational Medicine 17% Medical Chemical Defense • Medical management ofCW casualties • Medical readiness • Drug prophylaxes/pretreatments • Diagnostics/therapeutics Combat Casualty Care • Lightweight medical equipment • Medical C4ISR • Trauma care • Health monitoring & diagnostic technology Medical Biological Defense • Vaccines/therapies • Field-portable diagnosticsystems • Medical readiness • Biotechnology Military Operational Medicine • Soldier selection & sustainment • Soldier performance • Warrior system modeling • Health hazards protection • Diagnostics/prognostics • Health monitoring

  9. USARIEM Natick, MA - Collocation with NSC Air Force and Navy Toxicology Wright-Patterson AFB, OH - Occupational toxicology research - Deployment toxicology - AFRL - NHRC Toxicology Detachment NSMRL Groton, CT - Collocation with attack sub fleet - Auditory and visual performance enhancement (visual and auditory displays of sonar signals NHRC San Diego, CA - Collocation with Navy, Marines, special warfare, and trainees - Navy MOM lead lab - Epidemiology of injury and illness - Environmental and occupational medicine Fort Detrick, MD - Deployment toxicology WRAIR Washington, DC - Basic sciences research - Neuropsychiatry, Tri-Service Directed Energy Brooks City-Base, TX • Laser eye protection and visual performance WRAIR-Detachment - NHRC EMR Detachment USAARL Fort Rucker, AL- Collocated with Army aviation- Platform-specific research (rotary-wing aircraft and ground combat vehicles) - Injury biodynamics research - Lead DoD biomedical lab for sensory research (visual and auditory performance) NAMRL Pensacola, FL - Collocation with Navy aviation - Aviation medicine Tactile sensory input and spatial disorientation research Altitude Laboratory Pikes Peak, CO NMRC Washington, DC - Diving and environmental physiology - Hyperbaric medicine USAMRU-E Heidelberg, Germany - Psychosocial stress studies in USAREUR and deployed forces Military Operational Medicine Labs

  10. March 25, 2008: “ > 40% of the Army’s science workforce are eligible for retirement within the next 10 years.” MG Weightman Commander, MRMC • Army science workforce ~ 8,000+ • Other DoD branches (Navy, Air Force) real numbers but much smaller

  11. “World-Class” Laboratory for Environmental Medicine, Physiology, Performance and Nutrition Research • Integrated Cellular, Tissue, Animal & Human Research Programs • Four research “Divisions” • n = 200 scientists/support personnel • Under a military “Command” • 40 % scientists are military US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine ENVIRONMENTAL MEDICINE • Environmental Extremes (Heat, Cold & High Terrestrial Altitude) • Physiological Monitoring & Predictive Modeling OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE & PERFORMANCE • Occupational Task Performance & Injury Prevention • Bioenergetics & Metabolism (Nutrition) • Cognitive Performance Assessment

  12. World Class Facilities • Doriot Climatic Chambers (minus 70 F to 160 F) • Water Immersion Laboratory • Altitude (Hypobaric) Chamber Sea-level to 9,150 m (30,000 ft) • Biochemical labs, Testing labs, off-site centers • Pikes Peak Lab 4300 m (highest in NA)

  13. Military Performance Division(MPD) Thermal & Mountain Medicine Division(TMMD) Biophysics & Biomedical Modeling Division(BBMD) Military Nutrition Division(MND) USARIEM Organization Research Support Division USARIEM Personnel: N ≈ 200 35% Military 50% Civilian 15% Contractor

  14. Military Performance Division Research Teams • Epidemiology • Injury Epidemiology • Performance Physiology • Assessment of individual capacities/training programs • Endocrine control: exercise and/or environmental stress • Muscle / bone function: stress fractures/bone health • Mechanisms of muscle growth and injury • Energy Metabolism • Biomechanics • Load carriage/equipment interactions • Injury potential • Cognitive Performance • Cognitive performance: assessment • Altered Cognitive Function: military operations (blast, deployment..)

  15. Physiologists Systems Environmental Cellular Biochemists Endocrinologists Molecular biologists Cell Signaling Epidemiologists Pharmacologists Statisticians Biomedical engineers Biophysicists (modelers) Nutritionists Immunologists MDs (clinical research) Types of Scientists: USARIEM/MPD

  16. US Gov’t/Army 9% 10% 1% 80% Academia Scientist: Comparison of Responsibilities 30% 10% 30% 30% Teaching Administrative Grants/ Funding Research

  17. Skills Needed: Civilian Scientist in the US Army • Research Expertise • Basic scientist • Applied: “ real world” • Function in disciplined/structured environment • Ability to Communicate: oral and written • Contracting/Budgeting • Acquisition training, CORs, CRADA, MOU • Perform under pressure: “suspense” • “taskers”, briefings, reviews • “DWA” (deal with acronyms !!)

  18. General Schedule (GS) SystemCivilian Scientists • Pay ranges stipulated (GS-1 – GS-15) • Competitive with University salaries • Full benefits • More structured • Annual appointments • Leave calculations (recently revised) • Time monitored • “Term” appointments vs “permanent” positions

  19. Government Scientist “Coming in green” (active duty) • Health Professions Scholarship Program: MDs, Vet, Psych (PhD) • Professional Allied/Health programs: • Physical therapy (Doctoral) • Occupational therapy (Doctoral) • Dieticians (Masters) • Physician assistants • Payback ≈ 2:1

  20. Army’s Scientific Workforce • GS Civilian Scientists • Military Scientists / Health Professionals • Contracted Scientists • “in house” • Collaborations • “IPA” – Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement

  21. Comparison: attributes of each..

  22. Finding Jobs within US Gov’t/Army (MRMC-Military Operational Medicine) • Direct Inquiries and Contact with Army Research Investigators. • Interactions as Professionals • Meetings/conferences • Societies/Editorial Boards • Interaction as Collaborators • Formal Government Job Announcements • Websites: • http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/ [general government] • http://www.cpol.army.mil/ [Army civilians]

  23. Mid-Career Transitions Civilian Scientist Military Health Professional • Very positive work environment (my perspective) • There are positions (this number will be increasing) • Wide variety of disciplines / skill sets • Clear differences academia government environment • Individual qualities / choice / time point in your career Contractor Research Positions: US Army / Government

  24. “Scientific Career Opportunities in the Government and Military” Edward J. Zambraski, Ph.D., FACSM Chief, Military Performance Division US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine Natick, MA 01760-5007 edward.zambraski@us.army.mil (508) 233-5150 The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the author and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Army or the Department of Defense.

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