Molecular Genomic Specialist I

at  UPMC

UPMC Presbyterian is hiring a Molecular Genomic Specialist I to support the Molecular and Genomic Pathology Laboratory (MGP)! This is a daylight position working Monday through Friday - no weekends or holidays are required!
The Molecular and Genomic Pathology Laboratory (MGP) is a dynamic state-of-the-art clinical laboratory that prides itself on providing the highest quality of patient care in the fields of inherited diseases, hematological malignancies, and solid tumors utilizing cutting-edge molecular testing platforms and informatics approaches exemplified by next-generation sequencing. MGP offers its staff a challenging and rewarding career by offering a wide variety of job responsibilities as well as opportunities to identify and build upon individual strengths. MGP promotes lab-wide collaboration and teamwork where each staff member is valued for the unique skill set they can offer the team!

WE ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING A GENEROUS SIGN-ON BONUS FOR THIS ROLE!

• Sign-On Bonus Details: $15,000 for a 3-year commitment

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accurately record relevant data and values in case folders and internal databases.
• Adhere to established laboratory and hospital policies and good clinical laboratory practice in areas of procedures, quality control, quality assurance, and safety and compliance.
• Appropriately use automated and/or liquid handling machines for clinical testing.
• Accurately and precisely analyze molecular assay results for final interpretation by medical staff.
• Effectively communicate with other laboratory members including lab leadership. Maintain track of technical and professional development, including but not limited to attendance at seminars/webinars and participation in educational programs and activities.
• Identify critical, abnormal, and/or unacceptable results and follow-up according to established protocol.
• Document all corrective actions and follow up with the lead and/or supervisor.
• Independently perform clinical testing per established SOPs. Process all clinical, QC, and PT specimens through clinical workflow.
• Demonstrate high-level problem-solving skills and analytical abilities to successfully perform laboratory testing.
• Maintain expertise in or knowledge of molecular biology techniques, including but not limited to: nucleic acid isolation, nucleic acid quantitation, PCR/RT-PCR/qPCR, Sanger sequencing, LOH, methylation analysis, MassARRAY MALDI-TOF, next-generation sequencing, etc.
• Maintain proficiency in appropriate Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS).
• Operate, perform routine maintenance on, and calibrate all laboratory equipment as required.
• Identify problems with instrumentation, methodology, specimens, and/or supplies and follow-up according to established protocols.
• Process samples meticulously to avoid cross-contamination.
• Meet established turn-around-time deadlines for clinical testing.

Molecular procedures are highly complex assays that have multiple steps over a series of several days. There are Quality Control check-points at each step, but the end result of every assay requires every technologist to evaluate assay performance as a whole as well as individual sample performance. Specific to molecular laboratories, technologists must:

• Be able to pipet accurately and precisely.
• Have scientific knowledge of molecular fundamentals and techniques, in order to understand the methodology of the assay and execute it properly both manually and using advanced instrumentation.
• Possess high-level problem-solving skills for assay, instruments, controls, samples, and reagents/enzymes so they are able to notice, understand, and act upon performance trends of every step of every assay.
• Understand basic molecular workflow principles and required proper precautions to ensure assay and specimen integrity.