• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: SSA
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $43,669.67 - $43,669.67

Position Summary

The Department of Pediatrics is seeking a Technician A to join our team in a full time position to work within the division of Molecular Genetics. We are seeking a bilingual/bicultural candidate for this position who has experience working with and among the NYC Hispanic/Latinx and Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander community. The successful candidate will have deep knowledge about the socio-cultural realities that impact these community members??? willingness to participate in biomedical and genetic research. They will understand and put into practice cultural values that promote trustworthy and respectful recruitment and study engagement with potential participants. The candidate will have experience in the process of developing and maintaining community/participant trust, will be knowledgeable about the role of trust in research participation, engagement and retention, and will show a genuine dedication to addressing any concerns related to study participation in a culturally responsive and respectful manner.  

At CUIMC, we are leaders in teaching, research, and patient care and are proud of the service and support we provide to our community. We apply the same rigor in our commitment to fostering an inclusive, thriving community and caring for our employees and their loved ones. We offer immediate eligibility and invest in our employee's families through comprehensive Health and Welfare,  Employee Assistance, Tuition Programs, and Retirement Benefits.

Responsibilities

• Work with principal investigator and genetic counselors to implement research study protocol.
• Handle recruitment of study patients.
• Explain study to patients in a professional, respectful, culturally responsive and efficient manner.
• Commitment to trust-building/maintenance with community members and potential participants.
• Engage with participants in a cultural responsiveness and respectful manner, this includes being respectful of their time and family commitments.
• Obtain informed consent to ensure that participants understand premise of the project and what their participation entails.
• Address participation concerns in a respectful manner in order to address potential mistrust in biomedical and genetic research.
• Obtain and label screening specimens for testing.
• Attend meetings with physicians and genetic counselors regarding multi-center studies.
• Perform related duties & responsibilities as assigned/requested.

Minimum Qualifications

• Two years of college or a completed A.A program with an emphasis in chemistry, biology or physics or a completed animal husbandry program.
• One year of related experience, or equivalent in education, training and/ or experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Coursework in biology and genetics.
• Coursework (or equivalent experience) in cultural or multicultural diversity and culturally responsive research practices.
• Clinical research experience.
• Bilingual/Bicultural with experience working with Hispanic Latinx and Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander populations.
• Firm understanding of socio-political context and lived reality of these communities and how this experience may impact their willingness to participate in biomedical and genetic studies.
• Ability to read, speak, and communicate effectively in Spanish or Chinese.

Other Requirements:

• Strong organizational skills and excellent communication skills.
• Ability to maintain clear records, and work independently.
• Basic computer skills which include knowledge of Word, Excel, and Outlook.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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