Translational Lab Manager - CICET

About the role

The Translational Laboratory Manager for the Columbia Initiative in Cell Engineering and Therapy (CICET) provides strategic and operational leadership for the Translational Laboratory and supports cell and gene therapy clinical and translational research programs. Reporting to the Director of CICET and working in close collaboration with the Scientific Director of the CICET Translational Laboratory, this role oversees laboratory operations, correlative study execution, and personnel management, including direct supervision of the Cell Therapy Correlative Study Specialist.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic, scientific, and operational leadership for the CICET Translational Laboratory, ensuring the efficient execution of correlative studies supporting cell and gene therapy clinical trials.
• Lead and manage the daily operations of the CICET Translational Laboratory, ensuring efficient and high-quality execution of all laboratory activities.
• Oversee laboratory personnel, including direct supervision, training, and performance management of the Cell Therapy Correlative Study Specialists.
• Ensure laboratory readiness, organization, and compliance with institutional biosafety, regulatory, and quality standards.
• Oversee laboratory space planning, workflow optimization, and operational efficiency initiatives.
• Manage laboratory budgets, resource allocation, and cost control to ensure operations remain on time and within budget.
• Ensure all project-related expenses are accurately allocated and charged to the appropriate sponsor-designated budgets in accordance with financial and contractual requirements.
• Partner with Principal Investigators, the Scientific Director of the CICET Translational Laboratory, and the Director of CICET to design and implement correlative study plans for clinical studies.
• Oversee execution of immune monitoring, biomarker, and translational assays using patient-derived samples.
• Support interpretation of translational data to inform clinical development and mechanistic insights.
• Oversee end-to-end lifecycle of clinical samples, including collection coordination, processing, storage, tracking, and data integration.
• Ensure alignment of laboratory workflows with clinical trial protocols, timelines, and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate closely with CICET Clinical Trials Management to ensure seamless sample logistics and protocol adherence.
• Establish and maintain robust chain-of-custody, biobanking, and sample tracking systems.
• Oversee validation, maintenance, and lifecycle management of laboratory equipment and instrumentation.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance, service contracts, and vendor relationships for laboratory systems.
• Maintain laboratory policies and documentation frameworks to support consistent operations.
• Ensure that laboratory deliverables are achieved according to agreed-upon clinical and operational timelines.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks, and implement mitigation strategies to ensure the successful execution of translational objectives.
• Align laboratory priorities with CICET programmatic goals and clinical development milestones.
• Oversee primary data analysis, including spectral flow cytometry, Olink proteomics, single-cell RNAseq, and spatial transcriptomic datasets in collaboration with Cell Therapy Correlative Study Specialist and bioinformatician support.
• Prepare translational results for internal governance, sponsors, and regulatory submissions.
• Serve as a key interface between the Translational Laboratory and CUIMC stakeholders, including clinical investigators, research teams, and institutional leadership.
• Collaborate with CICET GMP/QC teams, external partners, and collaborators to support integrated translational efforts.
• Facilitate cross-functional communication to ensure alignment across clinical and translational activities.
• Drive continuous improvement of laboratory workflows, assay platforms, and operational processes.
• Implement best practices in translational research, including the adoption of emerging technologies and methodologies.
• Support grant applications, publications, and scientific presentations related to translational research efforts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Immunology, Molecular Biology, or related life science discipline.
• Minimum of four (4) years of relevant laboratory experience, including experience in translational or clinical research environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing laboratory operations, personnel, and workflows.
• Experience handling human clinical samples (e.g., blood, bone marrow, tissue).
• Hands-on experience with PCR-based assays.
• Hands-on experience with designing and validating spectral flow cytometry panels of >20 colors.
• Strong organizational, project management, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary and fast-paced academic medical center environment.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in a related life science discipline.
• Minimum of 1-2 years of relevant laboratory experience supporting correlative studies for cell or gene therapy clinical trials, preferably in immunology-focused research.
• Hands-on experience in sample preparation for single-cell genomics assays.
• Familiarity with immune monitoring, transcriptomics, biomarker development, or translational assay workflows.