Clinical Research Specialist I - Biobank & Brain Donation Program - Department of Neurology (Hybrid)
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Cedars‑Sinai’s autopsy program helps understand why dementia develops and how treatment can be improved. The program is a partnership between the Neurology Department and interested patients and families to obtain an autopsy shortly after death to study the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues of individuals with memory disorders.
Note: Scheduling flexibility including evening, weekend, and holiday rotation commitments may be necessary.
About the Role
As a Clinical Research Specialist I, you will provide clinical research knowledge by participating in the design and implementation of research projects as needed. This position is responsible for specific and assigned aspects of research infrastructure development, coordinates projects, and communicates status to leadership.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
- Coordinates research projects at an institutional or departmental level.
- Communicates project status and improvement areas with leadership in a timely manner.
- Projects may include, but are not limited to investigator-initiated protocol development including protocol writing, case report form development, budget development, and coordination of departmental research committees.
- Provides guidance regarding project planning, project logistics, and project implementation.
- May implement and coordinate department-wide initiatives such as research quality management or clinical trial recruitment efforts.
- Ensures compliance with all federal and local agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local Institutional Review Board.
- Maintains research practices using Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
- Maintains strict patient confidentiality according to HIPAA regulations and applicable law.
- Participates in required training and education programs.
Department-Specific Information:
Brain Bank Coordinator (Donor & Operations)
Primary Focus: Donor coordination, family communication, and rapid autopsy logistics.
- Serves as primary contact for donor families, hospice, and clinical teams.
- Participates in 24/7 on-call rotation for donor death notifications.
- Coordinates overnight and weekend brain donations and rapid autopsies.
- Coordinates with diener services for tissue procurement.
- Ensure consent, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
- Coordinate CSF and plasma collection with clinical and research labs.
- Maintain donor database and clinical metadata.
- Track bio-specimen distribution.
Qualifications
Education:
- Bachelor's degree is required.
Experience:
- 3 years of proven experience in area of research specialty is required.
Our compensation philosophy
We offer competitive total compensation that includes pay, benefits, and other recognition programs for our employees. The base pay range shown above takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including knowledge/skills; relevant experience and training; education/certifications/licensure; and other business and organizational factors. This base pay range does not include our comprehensive benefits package and any incentive payments that may be applicable to this role. Pay Transparency Non Discrimination Provision (PDF) (opens in new window)
Diversity and Inclusion at Cedars-Sinai
We are caretakers and innovators committed to the pursuit of equitable healthcare. But health equity is not possible without representation. Our commitment to diversity goes beyond demographics or checking boxes. Our people must reflect the diverse identities, experiences and geographies of the communities and patients we serve – because that’s what our patients, colleagues and communities deserve. Quality Care and Research—For All, By All (opens in new window).
Cedars-Sinai is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.
Cedars-Sinai does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of the race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, ancestry, physical or mental disability, legally protected medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics or any genetic information), marital status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age (40 or older), military and/or veteran status or any other basis protected by federal or state law. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at Applicant_Accommodation@cshs.org and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
Cedars-Sinai will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, in accordance with the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring.
At Cedars-Sinai, we are dedicated to the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients and employees. This includes protecting our patients from communicable diseases, such as influenza (flu) and COVID-19. For this reason, we require that all new employees receive a flu vaccine based on the seasonal availability of flu vaccine (typically during September through April each year) as a condition of employment, and annually thereafter as a condition of continued employment, subject to medical exemption or religious accommodation. For the same reason, you may also be required to receive other vaccines such as COVID-19 as a condition of employment. Cedars-Sinai reserves the right to make modifications to its required list of vaccines as required by law and/or policy. Cedars-Sinai’s AA Policy Statement (PDF) (opens in new window)