Research Project Manager - Molecular Precision Medicine / Medicine

About the role

The Department of Molecular and Precision Medicine / Medicine at Penn State College of Medicine seeks a Research Project Manager to support a dynamic portfolio of gastrointestinal (GI), microbiome, metabolomics, and translational research programs. This position will provide high-level scientific and operational leadership across basic, clinical, and translational studies, ensuring regulatory compliance, data integrity, and efficient execution of multi-investigator projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day coordination of GI-focused basic and translational research studies
• Support protocol development, study design refinement, and implementation across human and animal research projects
• Coordinate biospecimen collection, processing workflows, and data integration in collaboration with interdisciplinary teams
• Conduct quality control review of complex datasets (e.g., microbiome, metabolomics, molecular analyses) to ensure completeness and accuracy
• Oversee IRB, IACUC, IBC submissions, protocol modifications, continuing reviews, and regulatory reporting
• Ensure compliance with ICH-GCP, institutional policies, and sponsor requirements
• Develop and maintain audit-ready documentation systems
• Author and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for laboratory and study operations
• Train research personnel on protocol adherence, regulatory documentation standards, and best practices
• Build and maintain dependable systems for efficient scheduling, purchasing, onboarding, and study documentation
• Oversee procurement processes and inventory management
• Cover laboratory startup activities, workflow optimization, and operational improvements
• Serve as liaison between faculty investigators, research staff, data managers, and collaborators
• Facilitate research meetings and track project milestones and deliverables
• Provide mentorship and training to laboratory personnel and research staff

Qualifications

• PhD in biomedical sciences, pathobiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, or related discipline
• Demonstrated experience supporting or managing clinical and translational research programs
• Experience with protocol development, regulatory documentation, and compliance oversight
• Strong scientific writing and data analysis skills
• Prior experience in laboratory startup or operational system development
• Proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects in a fast-paced research environment
• Experience in gastrointestinal research, microbiome science, metabolomics, toxicology, or related biomedical fields
• Demonstrated record of peer-reviewed publications

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in NIH and foundation grant submissions
• Experience coordinating animal and human subject research

Benefits

This position is funded for 1 year(s); continuation past 1 year(s) will be based on university need, performance, and/or availability of funding.

Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full-time employees designed to support both personal and professional well-being. In addition to comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, employees enjoy robust retirement plans and substantial paid time off which includes holidays, vacation and sick time. One of the standout benefits is the generous 75% tuition discount, available to employees as well as eligible spouses and children.