Research Lab Tech I DOM Channing

Mass General Brigham • Boston, MA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

The Research Lab Tech I performs laboratory and office duties for the Channing/Harvard Cohorts Biorepository (CHCB), which houses research biospecimens from several large longitudinal cohorts and distributes specimens for research. This is an entry-level role; training is provided. The position works under the direction of the Senior Laboratory and Biobank Manager and has no direct patient care or supervisory responsibilities.

The role supports biospecimen distribution and collection, electronic recordkeeping, freezer and storage upkeep, and general laboratory operations. Work takes place in office, laboratory, and freezer-farm settings, with regular exposure to human biological specimens and liquid nitrogen. The position is onsite and requires walking between several nearby sites. In rare freezer emergencies, the employee may be asked to assist outside normal hours, including evenings or weekends, with additional compensation for those events.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in life sciences.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to understand scientific terminology and perform careful laboratory techniques with strict attention to detail.
• Comfort with computers and databases.
• Friendly, professional demeanor and thoughtful listening skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to repeatedly lift freezer racks weighing 19 to 25 pounds and push heavy equipment.
• Ability to perform the physical activities and work in the environmental conditions described in the posting, including frequent exposure to biological specimens and liquid nitrogen.

Nice To Haves

• Comfort handling human biological and frozen specimens is strongly preferred.
• Experience with robotics is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Prepare computer files and retrieve biospecimens from liquid-nitrogen freezers for distribution projects.
• Print labels, aliquot samples, add quality-control samples, double-check projects, create ship lists, arrange local deliveries or courier shipments, return remaining samples to permanent storage, update electronic records, and document project details.
• Assist the Collection Laboratory Manager with kit creation and processing incoming biospecimen collections according to standard operating procedures.
• Enter specimen and questionnaire data into a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and perform quality-control testing to confirm storage locations.
• Learn and use the LIMS and UNIX system; regularly discuss processes, improvement needs, and workflow with upper management.
• Participate in twice-weekly monitoring and upkeep of liquid-nitrogen and -80°C freezers, the external bulk tank, and Dewar replacements.
• Consolidate and update samples in freezers and help organize temporary storage for quality controls and drift pools.
• Assist the team during rare freezer emergencies, potentially during evenings or weekends, to transfer biospecimens urgently.
• Contribute to general activities such as proofreading, contributing to or writing standard operating procedures, organizing and inventorying supplies, and identifying items to order.
• Travel between the three work sites and occasionally visit area hospitals, universities, or companies to meet collaborating investigators or deliver samples.

Benefits

• Competitive base pay.
• Comprehensive benefits.
• Career advancement opportunities.
• Differentials, premiums, and bonuses as applicable.
• Recognition programs designed to celebrate contributions and support professional growth.
• Additional compensation for assisting with freezer-emergency events.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level