Scientific Career Opportunities in the Government and Military

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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_at_us.army.mil
• [phone]

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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

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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

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My Career Transition

• Quite a bit beyond mid-career !!
• The kind of environment I currently work in

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Mid-Career Transitions

• Fundamental Issues Government Scientist
• Are there jobs/positions?
• Types of positions or skill sets required?
• Similarities/contrasts to Academic positions

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US Army Medical Department Organization Chart
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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.
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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

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Military Operational Medicine Labs
10

• March 25, 2008
• gt 40 of the Armys 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

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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

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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)

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USARIEM Organization
Research Support Division
USARIEM Personnel N 200 35 Military
50 Civilian 15 Contractor
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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..)

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Types of Scientists USARIEM/MPD

• Physiologists
• Systems
• Environmental
• Cellular
• Biochemists
• Endocrinologists
• Molecular biologists
• Cell Signaling
• Epidemiologists

• Pharmacologists
• Statisticians
• Biomedical engineers
• Biophysicists (modelers)
• Nutritionists
• Immunologists
• MDs (clinical research)

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Academia
Scientist Comparison of Responsibilities
30
10
30
30
Teaching Administrative Grants/ Funding Research
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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 !!)

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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

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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 21

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Armys Scientific Workforce

• GS Civilian Scientists
• Military Scientists / Health Professionals
• Contracted Scientists
• in house
• Collaborations
• IPA Intergovernmental Personnel Agreement

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Comparison attributes of each..
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Finding Jobs within US Govt/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

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Mid-Career Transitions
Civilian Scientist
Military Health Professional
Contractor
Research Positions US Army / Government

• 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

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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_at_us.army.mil
• [phone]
• 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.