GENERAL SUMMARY/OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

The Channing Division of Network Medicine is a research division within the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. The Channing Mission is: To use an integrated, network-based, systems biology-driven approach to define the etiology of complex diseases; to reclassify complex diseases based on systems pathobiological mechanisms; and to develop new treatments and preventive strategies based on these new disease classifications using systems pharmacology approaches. To these aims, one of the three units of the Channing, the Chronic Disease Epidemiology unit, includes several of the largest, most intensively studied, longitudinal cohorts in the world, including the Nurses' Health Study, the Health Professionals Follow-up Study, Growing Up Today Study, and the Physician's Health Study. Epidemiology of a broad range of complex chronic diseases is studied in these cohorts, using a variety of traditional and novel approaches, including genomics, metabolomics, and molecular pathoepidemiology.

Working under the general direction of the Senior Research Laboratory and Biobank Manager, the Senior Technical Research Assistant is responsible for the implementation, monitoring, and execution of biorepository projects for the distribution of biospecimens. Daily, she/he is responsible for coordinating with appropriate team members, investigators, and external study partners. Responsible for assuring that biorepository personnel adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and quality control (QC) measures. She/He trains biorepository personnel. Works to bring projects in on time and on budget

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Distribution: Responsible for organizing and assigning biorepository distribution projects. Shares advise on the project needs such as staffing requirements. Oversees and participates in the preparation of biospecimen drawn from the biobank for biochemical analyses at collaborating laboratories. Generates the necessary computer files and organizes the needs for all projects.
Experimental Design and Coordination of Pilots: Responsible for working with upper management to plan internal method development experiments and coordinate with appropriate team leads, investigators, and external study partners to executes pilot studies.
SOPs and Quality Assurance: Responsible for the accuracy of Standard Operating Protocols (SOPs) and ensures biorepository personnel adhere to SOPs. Exercises best practices for Quality assurance for all cohort work, and individual quality control (QC) measures for projects.
Training: Works in partnership with senior staff to plan, organize, train, and mentor biorepository personnel.
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS): Makes suggested improvements to LIMS developers and beta tests changes. Use LIMS daily for collections and project preparation in Distribution.
Maintain Robotic Equipment: Responsible for maintenance and caretaking of the Scinomix automated labeler. This includes: updating software; establishing project templates; troubleshooting when problems arise; train staff on software and machine use; and ensure supplies for the equipment are properly stocked.
Liaison Responsibilities: Meets with senior staff, writes detailed correspondence with collaborators to ensure the proper specifications for each project are met. Responds to inquiries from internal and external users regarding biorepository protocol, policy, and projects.
Biorepository Monitoring: Semiweekly, oversees the monitoring of LN2 freezers temperature and LN2 level; updates freezer and repair logs; makes repair requests; responds promptly to freezer alarm and immediately communicates issues/alarms with senior management. "On-Call" every 8 weeks- carrying a pager evenings for one week and one weekend.
Personnel: Supports, trains, and tracks lab assistant's progress. Addresses staff questions and/or concerns. Alerts senior management to any issues or problems as they arise and makes recommendations for improvement.
Record Storage: Uses UNIX, PMdb, LIMS, and other computer storage files to ensure every detail of a project is recorded on a daily basis. Ensures junior staff are well trained in electronic record keeping.
Shipping Projects: Documents, coordinates, and physical participates and/or oversees the shipments of completed projects to designated laboratories using IATA approved shipping methods for Biological Safety Level II packages.
All other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum BA/BS required. PMP or other project management training a plus.

Experience:

Minimum 3 years of work experience showing increasing responsibility
Ability to carry out position with high degree of customer service, communication, teamwork, and timeliness is desired.
Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and UNIX operating system are preferred.
SAS Programming desired. Alternatively, the ability to process large amounts of data using another software for multivariate analysis.
Robotic experience is a plus.
Experience or certification in IATA Dangerous Good Shipping is preferred.
Knowledge of biorepository operations and/or research biospecimens, a plus.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

Excellent interpersonal skills are necessary to communicate and interact effectively with individuals from various fields of expertise and various levels of experiences, including Principal Investigators, Partner Laboratory Leads, administrators, contractors, and technical staff.
Must have a proven track record of experience in project supervision, time management and goal execution.
Display sound independent judgment, accept responsibility for designated assignments, and meet deadlines efficiently.
Position requires excellent organizational skills in order to formulate, implement, and monitor a number of interrelated tasks.
The ability to pay strict attention to detail on a continuous basis to ensure that research results are valid and error-free.
A high degree of computer literacy, various database software experiences needed, to learn and utilize database management and other specialized software and to implement these on the existing computer systems. SAS programming Skills, LIMS, and Project management training and/or certification are a plus.
Robotic experience: Ability to read complicated manuals, analyze issues, and trouble shoot equipment.
Emergency responsiveness: calm analytical demeanor and quick action to process and act on problems when on-call. Experience in assessing and resolving freezer issues.
PLEASE NOTE: Physical requirements of position

WORKING CONDITIONS:
The work takes place in both office and laboratory settings. Frequent exposure to liquid nitrogen (LN2) freezers, which are located in basement locations with controlled air ventilation. Walking between the three sites; 221 Longwood (lab); 181 Longwood (freezer farm); and 665 Huntington (TH Chan HSPH- lab and freezer farm) Avenue is required. Exposure to human biological specimen and LN2 occurs daily.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:
Will assist with aspects of financial management as required by the Senior Research and Biobank Manager

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:
ther Duties and Responsibilities:

The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities or skills of personnel so classified.

Works within legal, regulatory, accreditation and ethical practice standards relevant to the position and as established by BWH/Partners; follows safe practices required for the position; complies with appropriate BWH and Partners policies and procedures; fulfills any training required by BWH and/or Partners, as appropriate; brings potential matters of non-compliance to the attention of the supervisor or other appropriate hospital staff.

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS OF JOB
Work Environment:

Activity
Outdoor weather conditions: 5 % of the time per month, to deliver projects to labs

Extreme cold (non-weather): 25 % of the time

Exposure to blood borne pathogens: 50% of the time

Dust or other irritants: 50% of the time

Infectious / contagious disease: 50% of the time

Cleaning agents/chemicals: 10% of the time

Hot equipment: 1% of the time

Noisy equipment: 10% of the time

Humid or wet conditions (non -weather): 10% of the time

Other LN2: LIQUID NITROGEN: 25-50% of the time

Lifting/Carry Requirements of this job

Number of pounds
Up to 10 pounds: Lift 25-50% of the time/Carry 25-50% of the time

Up to 25 pounds: Lift 25-50% of the time/Carry 25-50% of the time

Push/Pull Requirements of this job:

Number of pounds
Up to 10 pounds: 25-50% of the time

Up to 25 pounds: 25-50% of the time

Up to 50 pounds: 1-25% of the time

Up to 100 pounds: 1-25% of the time

Over 100 pounds: 1-25% of the time

Physical Activity requirements of this job:

Stand: 1-25% of the time

Walk: 1-25% of the time

Sit: 25-50% of the time

Use of hands requiring fine motor skills and sense of touch: Over 75% of the time

Move / rotate / bend wrist(s): 50-75% of the time

Type / use keyboard or other data entry device: 50-75% of the time

Reach with hands & arms: 50-75% of the time

Climb stairs: 1-25% of the time

Climb ladder or other equipment: 1-25% of the time

Balance: over 75% of the time

Stoop, kneel, crouch, bend, crawl: 1-25% of the time

Speak: 50-75% of the time

Hear: over 75% of the time

Vision Requirements of this job:
Close vision: Required

Distance vision: Required

Color vision: Required

Peripheral vision: Required

Depth perception: Required

Ability to adjust focus: Required

Safety equipment used while performing this job: Safety eye glasses, Lab Coat, Face Shield, Ear Plugs (during sonication), surgical mask (during COVID-19), latex or nitrile gloves, and Cryo gloves when needed.

Level of noise typical in this work environment: Moderate

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1 Works within legal, regulatory, accreditation and ethical practice standards relevant to the position and an Established by BWH/Partners.

2 Follows safe practices required for the position.

3 Complies with appropriate BWH and Partners policies and procedures.

4 Fulfills any training required by BWH and/or Partners, as appropriate.

5 Brings potential matters of non-compliance to the attention of the supervisor or other appropriate Hospital staff.

HOSPITAL WIDE RESPONSIBILITIES:

Brigham and Women's Hospital is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, veteran status, disability unrelated to job requirements, genetic information, military service, or other protected status.