Research Program Coordinator

Job Summary

The Waisman Center advances knowledge about human development, developmental disabilities, and neurodegenerative diseases. The Research Program Coordinator will provide high‑level program management and operational leadership for the Bishop Laboratory (PI: Lauren Bishop), which uses epidemiological, computational, and qualitative methods to study health, wellbeing, and aging in autistic adults and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify concerns and recommend solutions to leadership.
• Assist with the development of research methodologies and procedures.
• Train individuals and groups on equipment operations, research protocols, and techniques.
• Conduct literature reviews, prepare reports and materials, disseminate information, and assist with publications.
• Collect and analyze basic research data, conduct experiments and interviews, and document results according to established policies.
• Coordinate regulatory and data‑governance activities, including IRB protocols, data‑use and data‑transfer agreements, data‑access requests and renewals, and maintain tracking systems for approvals and compliance.
• Assist in developing grant applications and proposals to secure research funding.
• Coordinate scientific and community advisory boards and external collaborators, handling meeting planning, materials, communications, documentation of recommendations, action items, and follow‑through.
• Lead project and portfolio management for Bishop Lab research activities, developing and maintaining systems to track timelines, milestones, deliverables, dependencies, and responsible parties; proactively identify risks and coordinate resolutions.
• Coordinate operational aspects of grant development and submission, including timelines, collaborator coordination, reusable proposal resources, and collaboration with grants administration to ensure timely completion.

Required Qualifications

• Three or more years of progressively responsible experience managing or coordinating complex research programs or projects.
• Demonstrated ability to independently organize and coordinate complex work involving multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to anticipate needs, identify and resolve problems proactively, establish priorities, and bring projects to completion.
• Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgment, and collaborate effectively as part of multidisciplinary research teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing multiple simultaneous projects with differing timelines, stakeholders, and requirements.
• Experience with human subjects and/or regulatory research processes (IRBs, data‑use or data‑transfer agreements, data‑access agreements, other compliance activities).
• Experience coordinating or supervising students or other research staff.
• Experience supporting federally funded research, particularly NIH‑funded projects.
• Experience coordinating grant development and submission processes.
• Experience developing or implementing project‑management systems, standard operating procedures, workflows, or other organizational infrastructure for research programs.

Compensation

Salary: $67,412 minimum; negotiable based on education, experience, and skills.

Benefits include generous vacation, holidays, paid time off; competitive insurance options; savings accounts; and retirement benefits.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Additional Information

• Eligibility for employment in the United States must be verified before the appointment date; university sponsorship is not available.
• A criminal background check will be performed.
• HIPAA training and certification are required upon hire and annually thereafter.