Proteomics and Biospecimen Research Specialist

About the role

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Michigan is expanding a nationally and internationally funded research program focused on cardiovascular medicine. Led by Drs. Venkatesh Murthy and Sascha Goonewardena, the program integrates artificial intelligence, advanced cardiac imaging, multiomics, and cardiometabolic disease biology to develop precision diagnostics and therapeutic approaches, particularly for coronary microvascular disease and other conditions affecting women.

Responsibilities

• Lead biospecimen operations: receive, process, aliquot, and biobank plasma and other biospecimens collected during cardiac imaging visits; maintain cold chain and organized biorepository storage
• Coordinate, manage quality control for, and liaise with vendors for high-throughput proteomic assay operations, including manifest preparation, shipment logistics, and data receipt
• Develop, validate, and document standard operating procedures and quality-control criteria for biospecimen handling, assay preparation, and sample-to-data traceability
• Maintain accurate biospecimen inventory, sample tracking, and chain-of-custody records; keep electronic records synchronized and audit-ready
• Support proteomic data assembly and quality control in support of biomarker and signature analyses
• Closely coordinate with the Senior and Intermediate Clinical Research Coordinators and collaborating sites to ensure continuity and integrity of the proteomic workflow
• Support study operations under Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and IRB compliance requirements
• Maintain laboratory supplies, place orders, and operate and maintain equipment
• Contribute to manuscripts and reports under the direction of the Principal Investigator

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a biological or health science discipline
• Minimum 3 years of hands-on research experience in biospecimen processing, molecular biology, proteomics, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated experience with biospecimen processing and biobanking (plasma and serum) and preparation of samples for proteomic assays
• Demonstrated ability to develop, validate, and document standard operating procedures and to perform repeated procedures with precision and consistency
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent workflows on schedule
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including ability to coordinate with clinical research coordinators and multi-site collaborators
• Understands and demonstrates the core concepts of Patient and Family Centered Care, including Respect and Dignity, Information Sharing, Participation, and Team Collaboration

Qualifications

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a biological or health science discipline (desired)
• Experience with high-throughput proteomic platforms (Olink or SomaScan) (desired)
• Familiarity with cardiac imaging research workflows or cardiovascular biorepository operations (desired)
• Experience with vendor coordination for outsourced assay services (desired)
• Background in cardiovascular biology, vascular biology, immunology, or cardiometabolic disease (desired)
• Experience with LIMS systems, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and IRB requirements for biospecimen-based research (desired)
• Record of contribution to peer-reviewed publications (desired)
• Experience coordinating with clinical research staff across multi-site programs (desired)

Skills

• Hands-on research experience in biospecimen processing, molecular biology, proteomics, or a closely related field
• Experience with high-throughput proteomic platforms (Olink or SomaScan)
• Familiarity with cardiac imaging research workflows or cardiovascular biorepository operations
• Experience with vendor coordination for outsourced assay services
• Experience in cardiovascular biology, vascular biology, immunology, or cardiometabolic disease
• Experience with LIMS systems, Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and IRB requirements for biospecimen-based research
• Record of contribution to peer-reviewed publications
• Experience coordinating with clinical research staff across multi-site programs

Benefits

Michigan Medicine offers excellent medical, dental, and vision coverage effective on your very first day. There is a 2:1 match on retirement savings. Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work schedules are Monday through Friday, standard business hours, and this is an onsite position. Additional information about the work modes and benefits can be found in the job description.