Research Associate

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

12d•$65,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado Anschutz is hiring a full-time Research Associate to provide scientific leadership and operational oversight for high-level internal and externally funded research projects. The position leads multi-site international initiatives across the United States, Latin America, and Asia, coordinating investigators, clinicians, data managers, and research staff to implement studies and meet program objectives. The Research Associate translates scientific protocols into operational workflows and oversees REDCap-based data systems, longitudinal tracking, data quality assurance, and harmonization. The role supports clinical and translational study design and implementation, including protocol development, site readiness, and regulatory coordination involving IRB approvals and applicable international requirements, including FDA and GDPR considerations. It also facilitates material and data transfer agreements and compliant data exchange across institutions. Working with global partners and consortium members, the position supports study execution, dissemination of findings, grant development, budgeting, and scientific reporting for large federally funded initiatives, including the NIH INCLUDE Project. The role also develops standard operating procedures, reporting structures, and program monitoring tools, and trains and mentors research staff and site coordinators to promote consistent practices across international teams. The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in a relevant field and have experience managing complex, multi-site research programs involving clinical or multidimensional biomedical data. This is a hybrid position requiring four days per week on campus, with additional in-person attendance as needed for meetings.

Requirements

Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Molecular Biology, or a related field.
At least 3 years of progressively responsible experience in biomedical or translational research, including demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-component research programs or collaborations.
Ability to communicate complex scientific concepts effectively to researchers, clinicians, institutional leadership, and external stakeholders.
Ability to build and sustain collaborative relationships across multidisciplinary teams, institutions, and international partners.
Ability to lead and contribute to scientific publications, including drafting, revising, and submitting peer-reviewed manuscripts.
Strong presentation skills, including experience presenting scientific findings at conferences, consortium meetings, and stakeholder briefings.
Experience contributing to or leading grant applications, budgets, and sponsor reports.
Ability to initiate, develop, and manage scientific collaborations across complex organizational structures.
Expertise in data analysis, stewardship, and management of complex biomedical datasets, including data quality and integrity.
Ability to coordinate research programs and lead teams while managing competing priorities and timelines.
Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence without direct authority and navigate complex team dynamics.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills, attention to detail, and ability to drive initiatives from concept through execution.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparation of technical documents, SOPs, and strategic reports.
Legal authorization to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience in biomedical or translational research, preferably in federally funded programs such as NIH initiatives and multidisciplinary research environments.
Experience coordinating multi-site, consortium-based, or international research initiatives with investigators, clinical teams, external partners, and vendors.
Experience with IRB-regulated human subjects research, including protocol development, regulatory submissions and amendments, and ongoing compliance.
Experience in research program management and implementation.
Familiarity with research data management, including data curation, harmonization, quality assurance, and integration of longitudinal, clinical, biospecimen, or multi-omics datasets.
Experience contributing to grant applications, budget development, sponsor reporting, scientific manuscripts, and research publications.
Ability to develop SOPs, operational workflows, and training materials, and to mentor colleagues and support consistent research practices across teams.

Responsibilities

Lead multi-site international research initiatives, overseeing cross-functional teams, timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder engagement.
Coordinate research activities across investigators, institutions, and global partners to align with scientific objectives, funding requirements, and program milestones.
Oversee study implementation, site readiness, and operational workflows across multiple institutions.
Monitor project progress, identify operational challenges, and implement process improvements.
Design, implement, and oversee data collection and management systems, including REDCap, longitudinal tracking, data quality assurance, and cross-site harmonization.
Develop and maintain standardized data workflows, governance practices, SOPs, and reporting structures.
Support clinical and translational research implementation, including protocol development, regulatory compliance, and integration of clinical, biospecimen, and research data.
Coordinate ethical and regulatory requirements, including IRB, FDA, and GDPR considerations, as applicable.
Collaborate with international investigators, clinicians, and partners to coordinate studies and facilitate material and data sharing agreements (MTAs/DTAs).
Contribute to federal grant applications, budgets, progress reports, and strategic planning for initiatives including the NIH INCLUDE Project.
Track milestones, deliverables, and outcomes for sponsor reporting, program evaluation, and future funding opportunities.
Serve as a liaison between global research sites and central leadership, facilitating communication, resolving challenges, and supporting dissemination of findings.
Lead onboarding and training of research staff and site coordinators in protocol implementation, data collection, and regulatory compliance.
Mentor research staff and provide operational support to strengthen research capacity across international teams and institutions.
Develop training materials and resources to standardize practices, improve coordination, and promote program sustainability.

Benefits

Health insurance
Life insurance
Retirement plans, including an employer contribution of 10% of gross pay to the 401(a) plan
Tuition benefits available across CU campuses
Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays
Vacation accrual of 22 days per year, with a maximum accrual of 352 hours
Sick leave accrual of 15 days per year, with unlimited maximum accrual
11 holiday days per year
Reduced-rate ECO Pass for RTD bus and light rail service
Disability insurance
Vision insurance
Dental insurance