Researcher 2 - Comprehensive Cancer Center

Address

2255 Kenny Rd
Columbus, OH

Duties and Responsibilities

• Manage daily ION operations in accordance with NCI/NCTN best practices, including SOP development, biospecimen procurement, banking, characterization, and clinical annotation. Optimize workflows and ensure quality and compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations (IRB, IBC, HIPAA, biosafety).
• Career Roadmap Framework: Function - Research and Scholarship, Subfunction - Research, Band - Individual Contributor - Specialized, Level - S2 Experienced
• Coordinate ION activities with the OSUCCC Clinical Trials Office, Biospecimen Shared Resource (TCC), and Clinical Trial Processing Laboratory (CTPL) to ensure seamless sample processing and data integration.
• Maintain and improve the ION sample inventory database and biorepository systems, ensuring accurate “cradle-to-grave” tracking, chain-of-custody, and environmental monitoring.
• Assist the IMDP Director with budgeting, financial tracking, annual reports, and grant proposal preparation.
• Serve as liaison to internal and external investigators, ensuring effective communication, timely response to specimen requests, and adherence to established policies and MTAs.
• Support onboarding of new PIIO faculty, staff, and trainees; manage guest accounts, lab relocations, and introductions to OSU compliance programs (IBC, IACUC, EHS).
• Oversee shared equipment operations, including installation, warranty tracking, preventive maintenance, and service contract management.
• Aid in grant and meeting preparation, including facility documentation, agendas, and materials for donor and partner visits.
• Contribute to operational planning and implementation to support PIIO research space efficiency, safety, and collaboration.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s Degree or equivalent experience required; 3 years of relevant experience required with a Bachelor’s Degree, or 1 year of relevant experience required with a Master’s Degree.
• Experience applying biological/health science knowledge in a research or clinical research setting.
• Demonstrated experience with biospecimen handling, chain-of-custody, and biobanking best practices.
• Familiarity with research compliance (IRB/IBC/IACUC), data privacy, and biosafety requirements.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and written communication skills; ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with inventory or data systems (e.g., LIMS, REDCap, OnCore, or similar) and standard office software.
• Familiarity with electronic medical record system such as Epic and related system.

Desired/Preferred Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in academic or clinical research operations, biobanking, or shared-resource/core facilities.
• Supervisory experience (technicians or student staff) and basic HR process familiarity within a large institution.
• Experience coordinating with clinical trials units, biospecimen cores, or processing laboratories.
• Experience with quality systems (SOPs, CAP/CLIA exposure, audit readiness) and continuous process improvement.
• Working knowledge of material transfer agreements and data/specimen governance policies.

About Us

The OSUCCC – James is the only cancer program in the U.S. that integrates a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center, a nationally ranked academic medical center, and a freestanding cancer hospital on the campus of one of the nation’s largest public universities.

The Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology (PIIO) is a comprehensive bench-to-bedside research initiative dedicated to harnessing the immune system to prevent, treat, and ultimately cure cancer.