Anatomical 3D Artist & Human Factors Device Designer

Position Overview:

The Earl E. Bakken Medical Devices Center (BMDC) facilitates moving healthcare technology from idea to commercialization. Stakeholders from around the University including M Health Fairview clinicians, research faculty, research staff, graduate students, and undergraduate students come to BMDC for guidance and resources on solving healthcare needs. Some ideas are vague, some are well-formed, some are advanced, and some are in the early stages of development.

This role is responsible for performing professional research and development activities. This is a senior individual contributor in the department to whom junior employees go for technical guidance. This employee has the authority to effectively recommend to the BMDC's Director the following actions: hire, suspend, promote, discharge, reward, and/ or discipline. This employee has the authority to interview applicants, direct the work of other employees, lead project teams and other collaborative efforts, mentor/coach and adjust grievances. This extends to supervising student employees. Actions are guided by schedules due dates and clear deliverable. Requires complex problem solving skills that are varied in scope and nature and solved by know-how and imaginative workarounds.

This role is the BMDC's expert on, initiates and leads staff on the end-to-end development of anatomical 3D models that support clinical care, medical education, research, and product development within the BMDC. Its primary purpose is to transform medical imaging data into accurate digital and physical models through advanced software, additive manufacturing, and rigorous quality assurance processes. The position collaborates closely with clinicians, instructors, and industry partners to create customized solutions for surgical planning, training, patient communication, and device testing.

Success in this role requires strong technical proficiency in 3D modeling and fabrication, the ability to consult effectively with diverse stakeholders, and a commitment to clinical accuracy and safety. Additionally, the position supports departmental goals by maintaining modeling equipment, managing materials and budgets, contributing to program funding efforts, and representing the BMDC through outreach and reporting activities. This role is the BMDC's expert on Medical Device Human Factors (HF), working with University and external projects. Applying user-centered design principles, engineering, and psychology to develop safe, effective, and intuitive medical devices. They conduct user research, analyze use-related risks, design user interfaces, and perform usability testing to meet regulatory requirements (FDA/ISO) and minimize user error.

This position is based on campus in-person. Per UMN policy, work may be done remotely when appropriate and approved by your manager. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.

Job Duties/Responsibilities:

80% 3D Anatomical Design, Modeling, Fabrication & Application

• Model creation: Develop detailed, accurate 3D models from data sources like CT or MRI scans, or from a curated library of generic anatomies.
• Customization: Modify models based on specific patient scans for surgical planning or adjust material properties to mimic tissues like bone or fat for testing purposes.
• Software utilization: Employ specialized 3D modeling software, sometimes incorporating advanced features like deep learning-driven segmentation and virtual reality (VR) visualization, to create digital models.
• Manufacturing: Work with manufacturing processes, including 3D printing and classical artistic techniques, to produce physical models that can be used for planning, education, and testing.
• Quality assurance: Ensure the models are clinically relevant and meet necessary standards by verifying geometry, material properties, and other characteristics, often through validation reports for regulatory purposes.
• Application development: Sometimes work on creating applications or platforms for educational and surgical simulation purposes.
• Surgical planning: Help surgeons visualize and plan complex procedures before operating on a patient.
• Medical education: Provide a tool for students to learn and study anatomy in a more interactive way than traditional methods.
• Patient communication: Aid in explaining an upcoming procedure to a patient and their family.
• Product development: Allow medical device companies to test the performance, safety, and efficiency of their products in a simulated environment.
• Receive requests from instructors and clinical staff to design and construct a model for teaching or surgical planning
• Consult on the development of the digital model with requestor
• Build digital model (blueprint) using appropriate toolset (e.g. Mimics, 3-Matic, Meshmixer)
• Determine best toolset to build models (e.g. 3D-Printers, Classic Art materials)
• Build model and review with requestor (V&V)
• Produce requested number of models
• E-Store
  • Research market needs to identify models for inclusion in the catalogue
  • Pricing (& costs) for models
  • Upload files for models to be included in E-store (e.g. metadata, cost, pictures)
  • Supervise and execute the production of models
• Funding
  • Engage funding sources for support of the program (e.g. Stratasys)
• 3D Printers
  • Maintain/repair equipment per manufacturer's maintenance program
  • Material balance
  • Request for materials from Chief of Staff/Front Desk
  • Develop proposals when new capabilities are necessary to achieve A-U's objectives
• Budgets
  • Track materials used and invoiced for submission to accounting
  • Work with accounting and BMDC staff on reports

10% Human Factors Device Designer

• User Research & Design
  • User Research & Analysis: Perform ethnographic research, contextual inquiries, and task analyses to understand user behaviors, capabilities, and limitations.
  • Use-Related Risk Management: Identify potential use errors and conduct usability risk analyses (e.g., Use FMEA) to mitigate risks through design.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with industrial designers, software engineers, product managers, and clinical specialists to integrate HFE principles throughout the product development lifecycle.
  • Design & Prototyping: Collaborate with engineers to design user interfaces (physical and software) that are intuitive and ergonomic.
• Risk Management
  • Usability Testing: Plan, execute, and report on formative (developmental) and summative (validation) usability studies with intended users.
  • Regulatory Documentation: Create HFE technical files for submissions to regulatory agencies (FDA/EMA), including Usability Engineering Reports.

10% Admin

• Representing the BMDC to the public
  • Tours
  • Conferences & Trade Shows
  • Guest lecturer to classes and student groups
  • U of MN outreach programs
• Updates/Reports
  • Department Meetings
  • Contribute to Director's report to Deans
• Grants/Funding
  • Generate data for inclusion in grant/funding requests
  • Develop grant strategies
• All duties assigned by the Director

All required qualifications must be included in the application materials

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least five years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and relevant work experience to equal at least nine years
• Undergraduate in science degree or Medical School
• Experience in medical device development (ISO 62366, FDA guidelines) or a highly regulated industry
• Practical knowledge of human anatomy
• Ability to conceptualize concepts and communicate them to clients in 2D and 3D
• Proficiency in user research methods, usability testing protocols, risk analysis tools, and rapid prototyping.
• Mastery of Stratasys Polyjet J850 and FDM printers
• At least 3-years experience segmentation with Materialize Mimics
• Materialize software suite, MeshLab, MeshMixer and Blender experience
• Experience in multiple classic art mediums (e.g. clay, paint, illustration)
• Knowledge of practical effects medium (e.g. silicone, casting)
• Supervisory experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Masters in Human Factors & Ergonomics
• PhD in Human Factors & Ergonomics (completed by start date)
• Strong analytical, verbal, and written communication skills to articulate complex usability issues to cross-functional teams.
• HIPAA Training (can be performed after hire date)
• Ability to manage confidential or sensitive information professionally
• Familiar with U of MN policies and procedures
• Experience functioning at a senior research level within an academic institution
• Google Workspace (G-Forms, G-Sheets, Drive) experience

The BMDC is an interdisciplinary program that sits within the University of Minnesota's Institute for Engineering in Medicine (IEM). The BMDC brings together expertise from the College of Science and Engineering and the Health Sciences (the Medical School, School of Dentistry, College of Veterinary Medicine, School of Nursing, and College of Pharmacy). The BMDC combines basic research, applied and translational research, education and training, and outreach and public engagement related to medical devices.

The BMDC Industry Collaborations group engages with local, national and global companies to partner industry and academia to discover unmet clinical needs.

The BMDC MedWorx and Protoyping Facility supports researchers, clinicians and engineers in their efforts to resolve clinical needs. Services include 3D Printing, 3D Scanning, Engineering/CAD, Segmentation and Virtualization (VR).

The BMDC Innovation Fellows Program is a full- immersion educational and product development program for medical device creation. The goal of the program is to train Fellows to be med-tech leaders by fostering leadership and teaching risk management as relates to medical devices.

Our vision is to develop and evaluate innovative, effective acute trauma care from point of injury through early post-injury in austere, low resource, rural, and emergency care settings by creating a multidisciplinary, translational research center that brings together trauma and emergency care research across the state of Minnesota into a single entity and develops faculty and trainee research careers.

Pay Range: $32.73-$57.46 per hour ($68,078.40-$119,516.80 anually); depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Work Location: In person

Position Type: Civil-Service & Non-Faculty Labor Represented Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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