Associate Scientist I, CONNECT, BPTL, CGR

About the role

The BioProcessing and Trial Logistics (BPTL) functional team within the Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory (CGR) plays a critical role in supporting the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) through expert oversight of biospecimen operations for a variety of research aims. This position is expected to operate with substantial independence, supervise and guide Research Associate III and Research Associate IV team leads, support implementation and continuous improvement of laboratory workflows, and help translate study and program priorities into scalable, reliable laboratory operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day laboratory operations for the BPTL functional team in support of DCEG research activities
• Provide operational supervision and leadership to Research Associate III and Research Associate IV staff, including direction-setting, prioritization of work, coordination across teams, and support for staff development and performance
• Carefully coordinate with existing Connect program management within BPTL as well as the DCEG Connect scientific leadership to ensure appropriate support for biospecimen accrual needs
• Manage biospecimen processing workflows, including receipt, accessioning, processing, aliquoting, storage, and shipment coordination
• Document and communicate collection and processing deviations, coordinate appropriate corrective actions in collaboration with the BPTL Connect program manager and QA staff, and support preventative action implementation with CGR/BPTL leadership
• Provide needed support to ensure accurate and timely biospecimen inventory management within laboratory databases
• Collaborate with program management and CGR leadership to ensure time-sensitive specimens are handled according to protocol requirements, chain-of-custody expectations, and quality standards
• Coordinate operational priorities across teams and shifts to maintain workflow continuity, staffing coverage, throughput, and laboratory readiness
• Prepare and maintain accurate laboratory records, specimen tracking logs, reports, and other study documentation
• Collaborate with CGR leadership and Connect program management to review laboratory workflow performance, specimen tracking records, shipment documentation, inventory data, and operational reports to identify discrepancies, trends, risks, and opportunities for improvement
• Coordinate with DCEG and CGR/BPTL leadership to support study needs, operational priorities, and evolving program requirements, including new biospecimen collections as study needs evolve
• Support implementation and continuous improvement of laboratory workflows using CGR’s established quality management systems and high-throughput operational infrastructure including documentation of deviations and authorship and review of standard operating procedures
• Support laboratory quality assurance activities, equipment oversight, supply management, and general laboratory organization
• Train and guide laboratory staff on safe biospecimen handling procedures, documentation practices, and protocol-specific requirements as needed
• Use Excel, Word, Outlook, and laboratory information systems daily for tracking, reporting, communication, and operational management
• Contribute to the successful scale-up of active or new studies through strong coordination, collaboration, prioritization, and data oversight

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) in a relevant scientific discipline, or four (4) years of relevant experience in lieu of degree
• Minimum of eight (8) years of relevant laboratory experience with human biospecimens and progressively increasing responsibility in laboratory operations and staff management, specimen management, or clinical research support
• Demonstrated experience overseeing laboratory operations involving human biospecimens, including specimen processing, inventory management, blood fractionation, chain-of-custody procedures, and documentation requirements in research, clinical, or biorepository settings
• Strong interpersonal and cross-cultural communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with internal leadership and external collection sites
• Experience coordinating multiple activities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, Teams and Outlook
• Demonstrated organizational, documentation, and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage data accurately in a fast-paced environment