Assistant / Associate / Full Professional Researcher - Spine Research Program

Application Window

Open date : January 21, 2026

Next review date : Thursday, Feb 5, 2026 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date : Wednesday, Jul 21, 2027 at 11 : 59pm (Pacific Time)

Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

Professional Research Series - Spine Research Program

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

University of California, San Francisco

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is recruiting a Professional Researcher to lead and advance a growing Spine Research Program. This position will play a central role in developing and managing an innovative research portfolio spanning spine surgery outcomes, health economics, and value-based care. This is an academic appointment with administrative responsibilities, designed for a highly experienced investigator who will be eligible to serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on funded research projects, subject to OSR and sponsor approval, while also providing strategic leadership for program operations and research prioritization.

Position Description

The Professional Researcher will provide leadership to research staff and oversee the planning, implementation, and day-to-day operations of the Spine Research Program. The incumbent will work closely with faculty, clinicians, and internal and external collaborators to ensure the successful execution and growth of the program's research mission.

Key responsibilities include :

• Eligibility to serve as Principal Investigator (PI) on competitively funded research projects, subject to OSR and sponsor approval, and contributing to the development of new, externally visible research initiatives
• Leading the design and execution of novel research methodologies and analytical frameworks that advance spine surgery outcomes research, health economics, and value-based care.
• Leading the development, implementation, and maintenance of analytical and data infrastructure supporting spine research, including outcomes analytics, health economics, and automation of data pipelines across clinical and administrative datasets.
• Overseeing a high volume, multi-project research portfolio involving concurrent prospective, retrospective, and industry-sponsored studies across spine surgery and health services research.
• Developing research goals, timelines, and milestones; monitoring progress and outcomes
• Providing strategic oversight of regulatory, compliance, and grant development activities in collaboration with regulatory specialists
• Leading and mentoring research staff and fostering a collaborative, high-performing research environment
• Working closely with surgeons and faculty to design studies and advance research projects from idea conception through data analysis, manuscript preparation, and publication
• Supporting scholarly dissemination of research findings through abstracts, presentations, and related academic outputs
• Communicating research progress and findings through regular presentations to UCSF Spine leadership, faculty, trainees, and external collaborators.
• Representing the Spine Research Program to internal and external partners, including funding agencies, professional organizations, industry collaborators, and through national and international scientific conferences.
• Participating in peer review and scientific evaluation activities, including review of manuscripts, abstracts, or research proposals.
• Supporting continuous improvement of research processes and infrastructure
• Contributing to the long-term strategic development of spine research infrastructure, including databases, registries, and analytic platforms that enable sustained scholarly output, external funding and national research collaboration.

Reappointment contingent upon funding

Required Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications

The Professional Researcher supervises two or more employee and is responsible for full oversight for staffing, performance management, and daily operations.

See Table 13A for the salary range for this position. A reasonable estimate for this position is $94,700 - $252,200.

Please apply online at https : / / aprecruit.ucsf.edu / JPF05931 .

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - CV must clearly list current and / or pending qualifications (e.g. board eligibility / certification, medical licensure, etc.).

Cover Letter

Statement of Research (Optional)

Statement of Teaching (Optional)

Reference requirements

About UC San Francisco

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and / or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

UCSF is committed to welcoming and serving all people, honoring the dignity of every individual without preference or prejudice, in support of its public mission and in alignment with our PRIDE values and Principles of Community.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

Job location

San Francisco, CA