Research Coordinator

Job Summary

The primary focus of this position is to provide research, laboratory operations, safety oversight, and project coordination support for the Principal Investigator and research team. The research portfolio includes laboratory- and clinic-based projects focused on immunology, epidemiology, the microbiome, diarrheal diseases, and other infectious diseases of global health relevance.

The Research Coordinator will support ongoing laboratory and clinical studies by assisting with experimental work, sample receipt and biobanking, lab maintenance, inventory and supply management, meeting coordination, documentation, and adherence to university safety guidelines.

Organizational Status
The research group is located in the Department of Pediatrics on-site at the BC Children Hospital Research Institute. The Research Coordinator will assist the Principal Investigator with research portfolio activities, including laboratory operations, safety compliance, project coordination, meeting support, and team development.

The Research Coordinator will be supervised by and report to the Principal Investigator. The successful candidate will work with the Principal Investigator, research staff, students, others trainees, and collaborators on related laboratory and clinical research activities.

Work Performed
The Research Coordinator will be responsible for:

- Assists with conducting experiments and assays, analyze data, report results, prepare reports, and contribute to the development of new technologies. Assist the Principal Investigator with coordinating multiple projects, tracking timelines, and supporting deliverables.

- Coordinate the receipt, processing, labeling, storage, inventory tracking, shipment, and retrieval of biological specimens in accordance with study protocols, biosafety requirements, and institutional policies. Maintain accurate records of sample location, chain of custody, consent and ethics documentation, and specimen use to support ongoing and future research studies.

- Maintain logs of lab upkeep activities, including equipment maintenance, autoclaving, reagent preparation, supply purchasing, inventory management, and waste management to support a safe and functional laboratory environment.

- Supports in coordinating scheduling meetings, preparing agendas, recording minutes, circulating materials, and follow up on action items related to research projects and laboratory operations.

- Assist with preparation and maintenance of SOPs, study materials, reports, ethics-related documentation, abstracts, presentations, manuscripts, and other project documents as needed.

- Provide guidance to research assistants and students on research activities, laboratory procedures, and protocols. Help coordinate team activities that support a positive and collaborative lab culture.

- Assists with safety in supporting personnel to receive appropriate training in the use of biological substances, chemicals, and laboratory equipment. Maintain adherence to university, institutional, and federal safety guidelines across ongoing projects.

- Other related duties as required to support the research program.

Consequence of Error/Judgement
The incumbent is required to conduct all activities in an ethical manner and in accordance with study protocols, university safety guidelines, and applicable institutional and federal safety regulations. New or unusual problems will be discussed with the PI.

Supervision Received
The Research Coordinator will work under general supervision of their Principal Investigator, who will provide direction in conjunction with the research team as needed.

Supervision Given
This position may distribute work to research team member(s) at lower classifications and support team members in research activities, laboratory safety, biobanking procedures, and study protocols.

Minimum Qualifications
High school graduation, some additional training in a related field and a minimum two years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

- Willingness to respect diverse perspectives, including perspectives in conflict with one’s own

- Demonstrates a commitment to enhancing one’s own awareness, knowledge, and skills related to equity, diversity, and inclusion

Preferred Qualifications

- Training in life sciences, public health, or a related discipline preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and related research experience.

- Experience working in a research laboratory environment, preferably in infectious diseases, immunology, microbiology, or a related life sciences field.

- Familiarity with biosafety practices, institutional safety requirements, and safe handling of biological specimens, chemicals, and laboratory equipment.

- Experience with biobanking, sample receipt, specimen processing, inventory tracking, chain-of-custody documentation, or related laboratory information management systems would be an asset.

- Familiarity with lab management or inventory tracking systems and experience writing, updating, or maintaining standard operating procedures.

- Knowledge in standard laboratory techniques such as PCR, cell culture, ELISA, microscopy, or related assays is an asset.

- Training or experience with research data collection, data cleaning, data management, and basic data analysis.

- Experience with research software or databases such as REDCap, Excel, or other data management tools would be an asset.

- Ability to support ethics applications, protocol documentation, consent forms, study materials, reports, abstracts, presentations, manuscripts, and other research documents.

- Exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, timelines, and deliverables accurately.

- Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with investigators, research staff, students, collaborators, and institutional partners.

- Ability to work independently and as part of a research team, exercise sound judgment, maintain attention to detail, and troubleshoot problems related to laboratory operations or project coordination.

- Ability to provide leadership, training, and guidance to research assistants, students, and trainees on research activities, laboratory procedures, and study protocols.