Senior Clinical Liaison On-Call

GENERAL SUMMARY:

The Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center (HBTRC), one of the largest brain tissue repositories in the country, is looking for a qualified candidate for a Research Specialist (RS) position. The HBTRC is part of the NIH NeuroBioBank. Its mission is to facilitate research on the human brain and on brain disorders by acquiring, storing, and distributing specimens and related tissue samples to investigators. The HBTRC works as a highly collaborative team, both within the HBTRC and with other tissue repositories that are part of the NeuroBioBank. The HBTRC is seeking a scientifically minded researcher with excellent organizational skills and attention to detail to join our team. The RS will, under general supervision, assist in facilitating research on human brain disorders. This role will include dissections of human brains, extraction of clinical information from medical records, and coordinating the logistics of acquiring brain donations. In addition, donation coordination will be performed remotely (off-hours – 10 weeks/year) which will involve interacting with donors’ families, obtaining informed consent, arranging for removal, shipment, and dissection of the specimens. Applicants should have a strong interest in preclinical as well as translational neuroscience.

OVERVIEW STATEMENT:

McLean Hospital is a comprehensive psychiatric hospital committed to providing easy access to superior quality, cost-effective mental health services in the Boston area, Massachusetts and beyond. Since 1811, McLean Hospital has been a world leader in the treatment of mental illness and chemical dependency, research into the cause of mental illness and the training of generations of mental health care providers. McLean's multidisciplinary programs treat a broad range of psychiatric illnesses across the full continuum of care.

All McLean team members are expected to consistently demonstrate our values of integrity, compassion, respect, diversity, teamwork, excellence and innovation in their work activities and interactions.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The RS will work independently and cover a wide range of responsibilities. Major job duties may include:

• Process tissue samples
• Process clinical data
• Assist the HBTRC Neuropathologists with ‘fixed tissue’ brain dissections and the creation of neuropathology reports
• Run statistical analyses on collected data
• Perform general lab upkeep and maintaining a clean and tidy work environment
• Manage email and schedule
• Coordinate the logistics of after-hours brain donations (remotely and off-hours carry HBTRC ‘on call’ phone and perform all procedures necessary to arrange for brain donation – 10 weeks/year).
• Perform brain dissection off-hours
• Contribute to preparation and updates of standard operating procedures (SOPs) relevant to their responsibilities
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

SKILLS/ABILITIES/COMPETENCIES REQUIRED:

• Must be able to make independent, effective decisions in appropriate situations
• Must have an aptitude for technical problem solving
• Ability to effectively supervise others
• Excellent organizational skills to ensure smooth functioning of lab
• Demonstrated analytical skills and ability to logically sequence projects to maximize research
• Must possess aptitude for compliance management

EDUCATION:

• Bachelor’s degree required. A degree in the neuroscience field is a plus.
• Training in computational neuroscience strongly preferred.

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 3-4 years of research experience
• Experience training research students and junior research assistant

TECHNOLOGY STATEMENT:

All employees must possess basic computer skills to use a variety of electronic or online systems for communication, clinical, and administrative purposes.

It is the policy of McLean Hospital to affirmatively provide equal opportunity to all qualified applicants for employment and existing employees without regard to their race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, ancestry, protected veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis that would be in violation of any applicable law or regulation.