Biobank Coordinator

The role

Runs CayoBank's day-to-day work in Puerto Rico: receiving, processing, storing and shipping the biospecimens the project's teams collect, so that every sample and its records are consistent and traceable for all the participating institutions. Reports to the Research Institute's Core Labs Manager.

What the work covers

• Processing blood and other samples under CayoBank's SOPs (plasma, serum, buffy coat, PBMCs, whole blood, smears), and proposing updates to the SOPs
• Helping collect and preserve tissues at post-mortem collection events, with the CPRC's veterinary staff
• Barcoding and registering every sample in CayoBank's inventory (eLab), linked to its metadata and chain of custody
• Watching the ultra-low freezers and liquid nitrogen storage, and answering their alarms
• Shipping samples to the participating institutions on dry ice, under IATA and DOT rules
• Receiving field samples from CayoField, and reconciling records with CayoHub
• Scheduling and training the technicians and interns assigned to CayoBank

What they're looking for

• Bachelor's degree in biology, microbiology, biochemistry, biomedical sciences, medical technology or a related STEM field; a master's preferred
• At least 2 years in a biorepository, research lab or clinical lab, including processing and managing biospecimens, or an equivalent mix of education and experience
• BSL-2 biosafety and good documentation practice
• IATA/DOT dangerous goods shipping certification, or getting it within 6 months
• Fluent written and spoken English and Spanish; Microsoft 365, especially Excel
• A valid Puerto Rico driver's license, and regular travel among the Research Institute, Sabana Seca and Cayo Santiago, including by boat
• Long periods standing at field and post-mortem collections, lifting up to 25 lb, and the CPRC's occupational health requirements (TB screening, B virus training)
• Preferred: sample inventory systems or LIMS, running lab workflows or training staff, and animal-derived samples

How to apply

Through Indeed. The posting has the details.

Applying from outside the US? Visa sponsorship is up to Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust: the posting can say what's possible.