Laboratory Coordinator II

at  Texas AM University

WHO WE ARE

The Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) is an institution that represents 100 years of growth from a small school of veterinary medicine in 1916 to its present role as a major veterinary educational, medical, and research center. Today, we are one of the largest schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, training nearly 600 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students each year. We support collaboration and teamwork that turns today’s discoveries into proactive solutions for animals, humans, and the environment. Together, we strive to support the goals of the faculty, staff and students in teaching, research and outreach programs. To learn more, please visit our website https://vetmed.tamu.edu/

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Compensation will be commensurate to selected hire’s experience.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS OR OTHER FACTORS:

Persons in this position are considered essential when the University declares an emergency, campus closure, class cancellations, etc., and are therefore required to report to work and remain on duty unless/until relieved by the direct supervisor. May require working alternate shifts, holidays, weekends, or on-call duty. Provides quality customer service to internal and external customers/clients.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific related field or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Two years of related experience in a clinical, diagnostic, or biological research laboratory.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of laboratory equipment, scientific apparatus, and computer equipment.
• Attention to detail.
• Able to multitask and work cooperatively with others.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience in a clinical or biological research laboratory and/or experience working with veterinary medical professionals.
• Additional experience with common laboratory equipment, including use of an autoclave, centrifuge, and single channel pipettes.
• Experience using cloud-based laboratory information management systems and sample tracking databases.

• Perform Laboratory Procedures : Under general supervision, performs specific laboratory procedures with biospecimens, including isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells, aliquoting of plasma and serum, cryopreservation of cells and examination of cells using a microscope. Coordinates daily biospecimen transfers from the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic L ab to the TAMU Dog Aging Project Lab. Administers the laboratory information management system (LIMS) to maintain sample inventory and sample quality records. Trains and supports 1-3 student assistants. Ensures adherence to lab standards and practices to maximize safety and operational effectiveness. Works with the logistics team and researchers to set up protocols for pilot studies and ancillary studies. Ensures the timely processing of samples by scheduling team members and lab times.
• Shipping of Biospecimens to Partner Laboratories : Prepares biospecimen shipments to downstream partner labs following shipping guidelines for exempt animal specimens and dry ice. Ensures shipping manifests are complete and accurate. Abides by predetermined project shipping schedules.
• Data Entry and Participant Communication : Performs and reviews data entry of metadata collected during biospecimen collection appointments. Evaluates sample quality and documents findings in the DAP LIMS. Monitors the DAP communication platform for sample logistic related emails and uses this platform to reach out to participating veterinarians and dog owners to collect missing sample metadata. Manages the participant sample collection pool by maintaining clinic visit records, screening sample quality, and collecting missing data from external veterinary partners. Works with the Senior Administrative Coordinator to ensure that cohort participants receive compensation as requested and follow up with participants if necessary.
• Maintains Lab Supplies and Other Research Equipment: Maintains supply inventory in the lab and coordinates orders with the Laboratory Manager. Ensures equipment records stay up to date and reports any equipment malfunctions to the Laboratory Manager. Acts as secondary point of contact for lab emergencies, temperature storage alerts, and required equipment maintenance.
• Observe Data Quality and Make Recommendations to Improve Quality : Observes patterns in sample kit collection and sample quality over time and communicates their observations to the Laboratory Manager. Performs regular audits of lab data entry to ensure accuracy and consistency. Assists with longer-term organization efforts by making recommendations to the DAP team to improve the quality and completeness of the biospecimens collected from dog participants. Other duties as assigned. May assist team project management with appointment tracking, participant outreach, and organizing study medication.
  Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.
  All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.
  Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer