• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $64,350 - $80,000

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Position Summary

Join a Breakthrough Research and Development Team Driving Innovation in Reproductive Medicine

Are you passionate about advancing medicine through hands-on innovation? The Research and Development (R&D) Laboratory at Columbia University Fertility Center (CUFC)—ranked the #1 fertility center in the U.S. by Newsweek—invites applications for a Laboratory Coordinator I to join our pioneering team.

This is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and technologies that are transforming fertility care and patient outcomes.

 

About the R&D Lab

Located at the intersection of science, engineering, and clinical care, CUFC’s R&D Laboratory is home to a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, embryologists, and physicians. We take an engineering-first, solution-oriented approach, identifying critical unmet needs in fertility and reproductive medicine—and developing breakthrough technologies to address them.

Innovations from our lab include:

• Automated robotics improving IVF workflows
• Needle-free blood collection devices for patient comfort
• Nanopore-based DNA sequencing for point-of-care genetic testing
• At-home sperm collection kits and transport buffers
• The STAR System (Sperm Tracking and Recovery)—an AI-powered, microfluidic platform helping men previously diagnosed with azoospermia to achieve biological fatherhood (recently featured by the BBC).

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Responsibilities

Laboratory Research & Experimentation

• Conceive, design, and execute experiments under the guidance and supervision of mentors
• Work hands-on in a fast-paced lab alongside scientists, embryologists, and physicians
• Assist in the development and validation of new technologies, assays, and devices
• Sample receiving, accessioning, processing, and storage
• Develop and document protocols, findings, and recommendations
• Maintain inventory, request supplies, and verify receipt and storage

Research Compliance & Documentation

• Assist in writing, submitting, and executing IRB-approved research protocols
• Observe and contribute to the conduct of IRB-approved clinical studies
• Assist with data entry, organization, and reporting for clinical research and regulatory submissions
• Co-author or contribute to manuscripts, abstracts, and grant proposals
• Maintain continuous and accurate communication with supervisors and managers regarding all current and pending research issues

Technical & Operational Support

• Support both bench research and translational projects involving real patient applications
• Collaborate in the design, prototyping, testing, and clinical validation of medical devices and diagnostic tools
• Provide technical guidance and instruction to students and new personnel as assigned
• Support training efforts and promote best laboratory practices
• Attend required continuing education, safety, and compliance training

Collaboration & Innovation

• Participate in brainstorming sessions and project planning
• Present findings and project updates in team meetings
• Work collaboratively across disciplines, including bioengineering, molecular biology, microfluidics, and data analysis

Additional Duties

• Work with human study subjects and cell culture systems
• Perform other related duties as assigned to support laboratory operations and research goals

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Minimum Qualifications

• Requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent in education and experience
• Strong work ethic and intellectual curiosity
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary team
• Passion for advancing patient care and health outcomes through innovative science

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Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in wet-lab biology, molecular techniques, or cell culture
• Programming (Python, MATLAB) or data analysis
• Background in engineering, bioinformatics, or mechanical/electrical prototyping
• Familiarity with microfluidics or medical device development

 

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The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology is dedicated to the goal of building a multicultural faculty and staff committed to teaching, working and serving in a diverse community, and strongly encourages applications from candidates of traditionally underrepresented backgrounds.

 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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