JOB DESCRIPTION:

This physician position will support the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and Environmental Physiology Lab (EEPL) at NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC). The lab conducts applied research, provides programmatic operational support, and develops technology to characterize the human health and performance risks during suited activities (e.g., extravehicular activity, EVA) to mitigate those risks. This position would focus on pre-breathe protocols to mitigate the risk of decompression sickness, evaluation of exposure to carbon dioxide in suited environments, characterization of the physiological effects of performing EVAs, and the development of computational models and technologies to aid in future autonomous EVAs. This position would also serve as a Pulmonary/Critical Care and Hyperbaric Medicine subject matter expert (SME).

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Work with the HHPC Technical Lead, HHPC Functional Manager, and the NASA customer(s) to develop integrated science approaches and protocols.
• Serve as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator for multiple research and operational studies, designing, developing, and conducting experiments in ground-based analogs and in space.
• Lead research studies related to suited physiology and decompression sickness, including ensuring compliance with all agency requirements, IRB approvals, study documentation, data analysis and interpretation and dissemination/presentation of results at both internal and external meetings and conferences.
• Lead programmatic integration of suited physiologic topics with other EEPL subject matter experts. 
• Ensure projects are following laboratory standard procedures including documentation according to standard procedures and NASA policy and Institutional Review Boards.
• Assist in development of strategic plans for paths to risk reduction for suited human health and performance.
• Oversee physiological computational modeling efforts in the lab as it relates to crew health and performance and decompression sickness.
• Prepare technical reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
• Develop grant proposals to perform relevant research and assist with preparation of budget estimates.
• On occasion act as a medical monitor for suited EVA tests that require Pulmonary and Hyperbaric medicine expertise. 
• Providing medical expertise and knowledge for supporting the JSC Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). This includes supporting crew suited dives, divers, aerospace physiology training, and altitude chamber sessions.
• Making initial diagnosis and providing treatment of diving and work-related minor injuries, serving as an inside medical tender if the hyperbaric chamber is utilized for medical treatment, performing pre/post dive physicals and provide Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) support in the event of a medical emergency.
• Providing subject matter expert input as needed to the Aerospace Medicine Board (AMB) and Diver and Suited Subject Medical Board (DSSMB).
• Support vacuum chamber human testing by providing pre-flight briefings to chamber subjects and test team members; conducting pre/post-test physical examinations on test subjects, rescue technicians and lock observers; and providing on-station medical monitoring during all suited subject tests.
• Maintain active JSC Clinic Medical Staff membership and clinical privileges in aerospace medicine and undersea and hyperbaric medicine.
• Responsible for compliance with Safety, Health and Environmental plan:
  
  • Must be committed to a high standard of safety and be willing and able to comply with all safety laws and all the Company’s safety policies and rules and,
  • Must be willing to report safety violations and potential safety violations to appropriate supervisory or management personnel.
• Serve as a test subject for protocol and hardware evaluations on a volunteer basis.
• Responsible for compliance with the Quality Assurance Plan, policies and procedures.
• Must maintain regular and acceptable attendance level as determined by the Company.
• Responsible for completing all assigned training.
• Demonstrate a positive problem-solving attitude with an enthusiasm for working as part of an exceptional team.
• Demonstrate a strong work ethic and commitment to the customer and team.
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident.

• PhD and MD in Applied Physiology, Biomedical Sciences, and/or similar plus 4 years of professional experience.
  
• MD or DO degree (or international equivalent).
  
• Experience conducting human health and performance research, leading human research studies, and collecting physiological data.
  
• Knowledge or experience with Biomedical Engineering principles.
  
• Active Texas Medical Board license as a Physician.
  
• Active DEA certification.
  
• Active board-certification in a primary medical specialty (e.g., Internal, Family, or Emergency Medicine).
  
• Active board-certification in the medical specialty of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.
  
• Active board-certification (or board-eligibility if within 2 years of residency training) in the medical specialty of Aerospace Medicine.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work with an inter-disciplinary team of scientists, engineers, and physicians.
  
• Expert skills at communicating effectively with professional and non-professional personnel at all technical and managerial levels in both oral and written form.
  
• Excellent interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to work independently and as a team member
  
  • employee will be required to work and communicate with human test subjects, astronauts, personnel across multiple JSC directorates and external collaborators.
    
• Highly motivated with developed organizational skills; must be able to work independently with minimal oversight and support multiple projects.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Applied physiologist experience in offloading analogs and extreme environments is highly preferred.
  
• Experience with NASA mission operations and hardware relevant to human health countermeasures and/or EVA.
  
• Successful grant writing experience.

SALARY:

Commensurate with experience.