Principal Laboratory Sciences Professional – Project Lead

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

37d•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Lead will lead the operational, regulatory, and coordination activities for a multicenter, biospecimen-based research program. This role is primarily project management–focused, with responsibility for biorepository oversight, regulatory compliance, inter-institutional coordination, and data/sample logistics. The position requires foundational familiarity with human biospecimen processing, statistical methods, and bioinformatic workflows—not to serve as a primary analyst or bench scientist, but to effectively coordinate teams, understand technical requirements, troubleshoot issues, and ensure smooth end-to-end project execution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in biology, molecular biology, chemistry, genetics or related field
An advanced degree (Masters or Doctorate) may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis if the degree is in a field of study directly related to the work assignment.
Three (3) years professional level research experience
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
Strong experience in project management within a research, clinical, or academic setting
Working knowledge of human biospecimen processing workflows sufficient to understand laboratory requirements and constraints
Familiarity with statistical and bioinformatic analyses (e.g., data structures, pipelines, outputs), enabling effective communication with analysts and investigators
Demonstrated ability to coordinate multidisciplinary teams and multi-institution collaborations
Expert knowledge of laboratory techniques including safety procedures and techniques
Expert ability to analyze and solve complex problems
Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution
Outstanding customer service skills
Knowledge of basic human anatomy, physiology medical terminology
Ability to interpret and master complex research protocol information

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in biology, molecular biology, chemistry, genetics or related field
Four (4) years of experience in an analytical and project management roles

Responsibilities

Organize, maintain, and oversee the biorepository, including inventory tracking, documentation, and quality control
Coordinate sample pulls, transfers, and distributions to internal analytical cores and external collaborators
Ensure proper chain-of-custody, compliance, and documentation for all biospecimen activities
Prepare, submit, and manage IRB amendments, renewals, and related regulatory documentation
Ensure compliance with institutional, federal, and multi-site research regulations
Support onboarding of collaborating institutions, including data use agreements, MTAs, and regulatory alignment
Coordinate data storage, organization, and secure distribution to analysts and collaborators
Serve as a liaison between investigators and statistical/bioinformatic analysts to align data formats, analysis plans, and timelines
Assist with select bioinformatic or statistical analyses as needed (limited portion of effort), primarily to support coordination and troubleshooting
Assist investigators with preparation of figures, tables, and text for manuscripts, abstracts, and grant applications
Ensure analytical outputs and sample metadata are accurately documented and reproducible