Senior Research Technician

monell chemical senses center • Philadelphia, PA

14d • Onsite

About The Position

The Monell Chemical Senses Center is seeking a Senior Research Technician for the Laboratory of Valentina Parma. This role is primarily hands-on and participant-facing, with additional responsibility for routine study coordination. The Senior Research Technician will be responsible for recruiting, scheduling, and testing participants across concurrent studies, ensuring participant experience, protocol fidelity, and data quality. The position involves working independently within established protocols and helping to coordinate routine lab activities, collaborating closely with the PI and other team members. The lab focuses on building tests, clinical trials, and data infrastructure to integrate chemosensory measurement into routine care, with projects spanning NIH-funded clinical trials, digital smell-data platforms, and industry-partnered sensory studies.

Requirements

• B.A. or B.S. in Psychology, Neuroscience, Biology, Public Health, or a related field.
• At least 3 years of hands-on research experience with human participants, including recruitment, consent, and data collection.
• Working knowledge of IRB processes and human-subjects protections (current CITI or GCP training).
• Exceptional organization and attention to detail, reflected in meticulous records, version control, and reliable tracking systems.
• Clear, warm, and professional communication with participants, from multiple backgrounds, including vulnerable populations.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with sensory, psychophysical, or olfactory and gustatory testing.
• Clinical research coordination experience, including clinical trials or multi-site studies.
• Data analysis skills in R (or Python).
• Experience supervising or training junior staff or students.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment, screening, scheduling, informed consent, and in-person and remote testing across multiple concurrent protocols, meeting enrollment targets and timelines.
• Administer validated smell and taste assessments and psychophysical procedures with rigor and consistency, and ensure fidelity across testers.
• Assist with IRB submissions, amendments, and study records; keep documentation current and promptly flag protocol deviations or other concerns to the PI.
• Maintain REDCap study records, perform routine data-quality checks, and help prepare datasets for analysis.
• Maintain testing calendars, prepare study materials, monitor supplies, and keep testing spaces organized and ready for participant visits.
• Help onboard students and newly appointed team members to established testing procedures, document competency, and model good participant care and research practices.
• Support analyses, figures, manuscripts, and conference presentations, with opportunities for co-authorship.

What This Job Offers

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