Research Services Principal Professional

University of Colorado•Aurora, CO

2d•$64,686 - $86,679•Onsite

About The Position

The Colorado Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CCTSI) provides infrastructure and core technology resources designed to enhance clinical and basic sciences, promote research excellence, and train the next generation of clinical/translational scientists. The Principal Research Services position serves as a laboratory professional reporting directly to the Assistant Director, with responsibility for both lab workflow and advanced technical execution within the CTRC Core Laboratory Program. In this role, the incumbent oversees workflow coordination, staff scheduling, specimen processing, assay execution, and space utilization to support investigator needs. They contribute to staff onboarding, training, competency assessment, and participate in process improvement initiatives and cross-functional collaborations, while serving as a primary operational liaison for study teams and investigators. The position ensures compliance with CAP, CLIA, and institutional requirements through active participation in quality systems, documentation, and inspection readiness, and works closely with other CTRC programs to support integrated research operations. Technically, the Principal RS performs and oversees complex specimen processing and analysis across a range of biochemical and immunological assays using multiple laboratory platforms. They monitor laboratory performance metrics—including turnaround times, quality control, inventory, and equipment maintenance—to ensure efficient, high-quality operations, providing regular reporting and escalating resource needs as appropriate. The role requires strong proficiency with laboratory information systems (LIS/LIMS) for tracking, documentation, and reporting, as well as experience supporting assay implementation and verification, staff training, and workflow integration. As a senior technical resource, the Principal RS also serves as a mentor and key point of contact for troubleshooting instrumentation and assay performance, contributing to continuous improvement and operational excellence in support of clinical and translational research.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a chemical, biological, clinical or medical laboratory science, or medical technology from an accredited institution or a directly related field from an accredited institution and 3-5 years of professional laboratory experience
A combination of education and related technical/military/paraprofessional experience may be substituted for a bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis.
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.
Proficiency in all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Superior communication and organizational skills
Experience in a high pace environment with multiple stakeholders
Must be able to work independently following training
Must be able to walk one mile while carrying up to 15 lbs work at both locations on campus and be willing to work with radioactive and biohazardous materials.

Nice To Haves

7-10 years experience in biology related laboratory
A Master’s degree
ASCP certification

Responsibilities

Supports day‑to‑day lab workflow and scheduling, including specimen processing, assay execution, equipment use, and lab space organization across multiple locations to meet investigator study needs, including training and task assignment.
Assist in staff onboarding, competency assessments, and ongoing training requirements.
Participate in team meetings, process improvement initiatives, and cross‑functional collaborations including implementation of established laboratory procedures, workflows, and policies developed at the program level
Serve as an operational point of contact for investigators and research teams including protocol start-up activities, communicating operational constraints and timelines with study teams.
Ensure adherence to CAP, CLIA, institutional, and regulatory requirements in daily operations and assist with documentation, inspection readiness, and corrective actions.
Collaborates with related CTRC programs (e.g., Nursing, Informatics, Nutrition) to support integrated research operations.
Performs specimen processing on blood, urine, and sputum as well as analysis by chemistry, hormone, and inflammatory marker assays such as, osteocalcin, calprotectin, IL-6 and insulin using automated chemistry analyzers (Access II, AU 480, IDS i-SYS, Luminex, ELISA, and RIA.
Monitor laboratory workload, turnaround times, QC, QA, inventory management, supply ordering, equipment maintenance monitoring, and service metrics to ensure efficient operations, then provides reports and escalates resource concerns to Assistant Director. accurate data entry, recordkeeping, and workflow tracking within laboratory systems.
Utilize laboratory information systems (LIS/LIMS) to support operational tracking, documentation, and reporting.
Implementation verification of new assays, ensuring staff training and workflow integration.
Point of contact and mentor for troubleshooting equipment and assay performance.
Other duties as assigned by the lab manager