Senior Research Technician

Job Description

Job Description

 

Senior Research Technician 

Human Sensory and GLP-1 Research

Multi-Principal Investigator Research Team

Monell Chemical Senses Center seeks a highly organized, participant-focused Senior Research Technician to support a longitudinal study examining changes in smell, taste, mouthfeel, appetite, and food-related behavior during Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) medication use. The technician will take a hands-on role in recruitment, scheduling, participant testing, biological sample collection, and sample processing.

Working under the multi-Principal Investigator team (Doctor Parma, Doctor Lim, Doctor Burger), the successful candidate will independently manage assigned study activities, communicate clearly with participants and collaborators, and maintain accurate, reproducible research records. The position will primarily support this observational clinical study focused on aspects of nutrition and sensory science, with contributions to other research activities as needed. Comprehensive training will be provided in study-specific sensory methods, laboratory systems, and research procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree in nutrition, chemistry, biology, psychology, neuroscience, or a closely related scientific field, combined with a minimum of two years of direct experience in human-participant research or a clinical setting, including direct, hands-on interaction with participants or patients.
• Organizational Skills: Demonstrated strong organizational abilities and the capability to coordinate recruitment, complex visit scheduling, and repeated longitudinal follow-up visits with minimal day-to-day prompting.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail when following strict clinical protocols, documenting experimental procedures, and maintaining high data and specimen accuracy.
• Communication and Judgment: Clear, courteous verbal and written communication skills, along with sound professional judgment when handling sensitive participant information or escalating medical and technical concerns.
• Independence and Collaboration: Ability to work independently within established standard operating procedures while collaborating effectively as part of a multi-investigator research team.
• Schedule Flexibility: Availability for early-morning research visits (for example, fasting blood draws) and occasional evening or weekend hours to accommodate participant work and life schedules. 
• Adaptability and Skill Acquisition: Willingness and capability to learn sensory testing methodologies, phlebotomy techniques, biological sample processing protocols, and study-specific electronic management systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• Phlebotomy Background: Prior phlebotomy experience and relevant clinical training, credentials, or certifications.
• Biospecimen Handling: Practical experience with biological sample processing, cold-chain temperature management, biospecimen inventory tracking, and specimen shipment preparation.
• Research Data Systems: Direct experience using Epic SlicerDicer, electronic health record systems, Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap), or comparable clinical research data platforms.
• Domain Knowledge: Experience in sensory science, human nutrition, psychological assessment, metabolic research, or multi-visit longitudinal participant studies.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruitment and Screening

Use institutionally approved recruitment tools, within authorized access limits and approved study protocols, to identify potentially eligible study participants. Collaborate with cross-departmental research teams on participant referrals, outreach efforts, protocol-based screening, and enrollment. Refer all medical eligibility questions to designated clinical staff.

• Scheduling and Participant Retention

Coordinate baseline and follow-up study visits, send timely participant reminders and fasting preparation instructions, manage visit rescheduling, and track recruitment progress and visit completion rates. Maintain responsive, respectful communication that supports long-term participant retention.

• Informed Consent and Study Documentation

Support informed-consent procedures and, when fully trained and formally delegated by the Principal Investigators, obtain and document participant consent. Maintain screening logs, enrollment figures, visit records, and regulatory study files in approved electronic systems.

• Study Visits and Sensory Testing

Prepare specialized testing materials and administer standardized smell, taste, mouthfeel, appetite, and food-evaluation procedures strictly according to study protocols. Record testing results accurately, monitor participant comfort throughout visits, and promptly escalate any participant concerns or protocol deviations.

• Biological Sample Collection

Collect blood samples according to approved clinical protocols and demonstrated technical competency. While phlebotomy experience is preferred upon hire, candidates without prior experience must complete required training and competency assessments before independently performing venipuncture.

• Sample Processing, Storage, and Shipment

Label, process, centrifuge, aliquot, store, and track biological samples. Prepare shipments to designated analytical laboratories while maintaining accurate specimen inventories and processing logs. Adhere strictly to laboratory-specific handling, temperature control, biosafety, and hazardous-material shipping requirements after completing appropriate training.

• Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry Coordination

Arrange Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) imaging appointments and coordinate participant preparation, scheduling, and timing with the responsible clinical imaging team.

• Research Quality and Daily Organization

Maintain laboratory supplies and testing readiness, follow standard operating procedures, enter and double-check experimental data, protect participant confidentiality, and keep the multi-Principal Investigator team regularly informed of project progress and emerging operational problems.

Employment:  Full-time On-Site. 

Supervision: Multi-Principal Investigator Research Team

Application Instructions

Please apply through our Career Center by following the link below.

Career Center | Recruitment

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Monell provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.