Lab Research Technician, SOM, Stravitz-Sanyal for Liver Disease

All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes: comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave granted up front, generous tuition benefit, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more. Learn more about VCU’s benefits here.

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education.  VCU School of Medicine comprises 18 clinical departments, eight basic health science departments, and 11 affiliated institutes and centers, and provides preeminent education to physicians and scientists to improve the quality of healthcare for humanity.

The Stravitz‐Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health (SSI) is recruiting a highly motivated Research Laboratory Technician to join the Saul Karpen research team. Research Technicians perform a variety of routine, technical, and administrative responsibilities in support of research at the university. They perform duties such as the following: collecting specimens, preparing materials, operating and maintaining equipment, ordering lab supplies, and maintaining inventory. They also assist with data analysis and report writing. They may work independently or as a member of a team. They work under general supervision, resolving most standard issues independently and referring complex issues to an upper-level manager. Technicians typically report to a manager or director or may report to a department administrator.The successful candidate must be reliable, have solid attention to detail, be willing to follow instructions precisely.  

Position Responsibilities:

The Stravitz-Sanyal Liver Institute seeks a motivated Research Laboratory Technician to join the clinical research team. The job duties for this position include and are not limited to the following: 

-Setting up and performing experiments; interacting with students and other laboratory staff.
-Assists with preparation of reports, manuscripts and other documents.
-Maintains and orders equipment and supplies.
-Helps monitor compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies, procedures, directives and mandates.
-Laboratory and instrument maintenance, customer training and support.
-Daily bench work involving perform advanced lab technical protocols.
-Independently handling and maintaining advanced instrumentation.
- Data collection and input into study systems and sponsor database
- Provide timely and courteous responses to queries from patients, faculty and sponsors.
-Complete and ensure accurate effort reporting is recorded.
-Case finding, evaluation & abstraction of source documentation, case report form completion, database use & management, data abstraction & organization for presentation/publication
-Utilizes multiple data capture/retrieval systems & interacts with variety of health care delivery systems to identify, track, evaluate, collate, analyze & submit subject data
Collaborates closely with clinical research team, which may include Principal Investigator (PI), to ensure that key federal/state/local regulatory requirements are followed; that institutional operational research objectives are met; and that ethical obligations are kept
-Develops, establishes and maintains productive relationships with VCU colleagues, all customers and contacts at affiliate sites to achieve essential research outcomes
-Foster a collaborative inclusive and team-oriented workplace where diversity and individual differences are valued.

Minimum Hiring Standards: 

- Working knowledge of laboratory techniques including blood sample processing, pipetting, and instrument maintenance.
-Comfortable utilizing various instruments, techniques and protocols.
- Accuracy, precision, and efficiency in work habits are required.
- Must be able to use time effectively, multi-task, work independently and be detail-oriented.
- Comfortable with handling human samples.
- Good computer and communication skills are necessary.
- Professionalism and good interpersonal skills are required.
- Ability to work in a diverse environment is required.
- Relevant lab and/or clinical research experience.
-Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a diverse environment.
-The successful candidate must be reliable, have solid attention to detail. 

Preferred Qualifications: 

- Bachelors, advanced degree or equivalent experience in Chemistry or Biology strongly preferred.
- Experience with research and clinical trials strongly preferred.
- Dangerous Goods/IATA Training preferred.
- Familiarity with RedCap and Microsoft Excel preferred.
- Familiarity with VCU Health preferred. 

Physical and Cognitive Requirements: 

Light to medium lifting (up to 40 lb), fast pace, multiple stimulation, intense customer interaction, frequent change, memory, reasoning, hearing, reading, analyzing, logic, and verbal and written communication. 

Additional Information: 

ORP Eligible: - NO
Hours / weeks - 40 hours weekly 
Title Details:  Lab/Research Technician    
University Title: Lab Research Technician   
University Code: 1-3 (34051N-34053N)
University Job Family: Research & Innovation 

This is a restricted position with no set end date and continued employment is dependent upon project needs, availability of funds, and performance.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender dentity, gender expression, or disability. 

Please note that if you are employed as a university employee working in any of the health system's facilities, you will need to follow VCU Health System policies, which will include but will not be limited to, vaccination requirements.

The School of Medicine continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve.  All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Demetria Patterson
demetria.patterson1@vcuhealth.org