This role is responsible for coordinating and assisting the acquisition, processing, and management of human tissue specimens in support of clinical and research initiatives. This position serves as a key liaison between clinical teams, surgical staff, pathology, and research operations to ensure timely and compliant specimen collection and handling.
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinate with medical oncologists, surgeons, interventional radiology teams, operating room staff, and pathologists to facilitate the collection of surgical and biopsy specimens
- Manage logistics related to operating room schedules, clinical workflows to ensure procurement of human tissue samples
Receive, retrieve, process, and bank human tissue specimens from surgical and autopsy cases, including gross dissection of solid tissues and processing of blood products. completes under the supervision of more senior lab members.
- Prepare and distribute specimens for research use; maintain accurate documentation of sample processing, storage, and disbursement
- inventory management, data entry, record review, freezer coordination, and tracking of specimens
- Ensure compliance with institutional protocols, regulatory guidelines, and ethical standards
Program Coordination & Patient Engagement:
- patient recruitment and coordination for the Hope for OTHERS Rapid Autopsy Program
- Maintain ongoing communication with enrolled patients and clinical teams throughout the disease course to ensure program readiness
- Coordinate post-mortem logistics, including transport to the morgue and participation in autopsy procedures as needed
- Communicate sensitively with patients’ families, balancing compassion and respect for the grieving process with the time-sensitive nature of rapid autopsy procedures
- Collaborate with medical teams to obtain timely updates and facilitate program execution
Performs general laboratory tasks, maintains inventory and equipment and orders supplies and parts, performs quality control testing, and assists other staff.
Recruit, follow and coordinate transportation of Hope for OTHERS rapid autopsy patients.
Moderate physical effort required. May be required to stand/move for several hours at a time. May be required to move objects up to 50 pounds with or without assistance of equipment
The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.
Job Details
- Assignment Category: Full-time regular
- Job Classification: Staff.Laboratory Assistant
- Job Family: Research
- Job Sub-Family: Laboratory
- Campus: Pittsburgh
- Minimum Education Level Required: High School Diploma/GED
- Minimum Years of Experience Required: No experience required
- Substitution in lieu of education or experience: No
- Work Schedule: 37.5 Hours / Schedule will vary
- Work Arrangement: Hybrid: Combination of On-Campus and Remote work as determined by the department.
- Hiring Range: TBD Based Upon Qualifications
- Relocation Offered: No
- Visa Sponsorship Provided: No
- Background Check: For position finalists, employment with the University will require successful completion of a background check
- Child Protection Clearances: Not Applicable
- Required Documents: Resume
- Optional Documents: Cover Letter