Research Associate (Berg Lab)

A global higher education leader in innovative teaching, research and public service, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn.

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Our mission is to improve the health and well-being of North Carolinians and others whom we serve. We accomplish this by providing leadership and excellence in the interrelated areas of patient care, education and research.

Patient care: We promote health and provide superb clinical care while maintaining our strong tradition of reaching underserved populations and reducing health disparities across North Carolina and beyond.

Education: We prepare tomorrow`s healthcare professionals and biomedical researchers from all backgrounds by facilitating learning within innovative and integrated curricula and team-oriented interprofessional education to ensure a highly skilled workforce.

Research: We develop and support a rich array of outstanding health sciences research programs, centers and resources. We provide infrastructure and opportunities for collaboration among disciplines throughout and beyond our university to support outstanding research. We foster programs in the areas of basic, translational, mechanistic and population research.

The Clinical Genome Resource (ClinGen) is an NIH-funded consortium dedicated to building an authoritative central resource that defines the clinical relevance of genes and variants for use in precision medicine. ClinGen is an international resource that has over 2100 members participating from over 60 countries around the world. The Research Associate/ Senior Coordinator position will support the ongoing efforts of the UNC specific objectives for ClinGen directed by Dr. Jonathan Berg.

This position will provide project management and leadership to working groups composed of global experts in research and health care to drive the mission of ClinGen. The Sr. Coordinator will collaborate with international experts to facilitate the work of several ClinGen Clinical Domain Working Groups (CDWGs) in different stages of launching, scaling, and sustaining their work. The Sr. Coordinator will liaise with expert leadership from international institutions to support the development of CDWGs, including formulating and following research processes, preparing necessary paperwork, onboarding and mentoring new participants, scheduling and leading meetings, composing grant reports and other activities as new duties emerge.

The position will be part of the CDWG Leadership team and will regularly present working group updates, author reports and papers, and represent UNC and ClinGen at professional conferences and meetings. The successful candidate will train and supervise junior members of the team. The Sr. Coordinator operates at a high level alongside international experts and plays critical role in the success of the UNC CDWGs as a scientist and as an administrator. As such, the Sr. Coordinator is integral to developing and implementing solutions for workflow and interpersonal challenges.

Additionally, the Sr. coordinator will also oversee training and supervision of Asst. Coordinators, learn and implement numerous curation frameworks and protocols, monitor working group progress, provide feedback and updates and represent the working group and UNC to NIH leadership, including Project starter who is capable of independently and creatively identifying and resolving issues and exploring new ideas to enhance progress while maintaining strong communication with the UNC Biocuration and Coordination Core members as well as external collaborators. A strong work ethic and sense of purpose are necessary. Also, the selected candidate must have knowledge of the scientific principles of biology, specifically the central dogma of genetics and a basic understanding of physiology and disease.

Major responsibilities of this position include coordination and training of expert panel members on biocuration and mandated processes as set by ClinGen. Minimal travel is required to attend professional conferences and ClinGen Steering Committee meetings.

The selected candidate should possess a strong work ethic and sense of purpose. Also, they should have knowledge of the scientific principles of biology, specifically the central dogma of genetics and a basic understanding of physiology and disease.

Relevant post-Baccalaureate degree required (or foreign degree equivalent); for candidates demonstrating comparable independent research productivity, will accept a relevant Bachelor's degree (or foreign degree equivalent) and 3 or more years of relevant experience in substitution. May require terminal degree and licensure.

Relevant background for this position will depend on prior experience. 3 or more years of relevant experience in coordinating expert panels and/or groups is required.

A Bachelor's degree (or foreign equivalent) in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, molecular biology. The ideal candidate will have 5 or more years of relevant experience in coordinating expert panels and/or groups or a Master's degree in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field and at least 2 years of post-degree experience; or a PhD in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, or a related field with 1 year of post-degree experience.

The ideal candidate will also be well-versed in genetics and genomic medicine. Candidates should have previous experience in management of small development groups or possess the interpersonal skills to supervise other junior members of the team.

Ideal candidates should have the ability to comprehend and instruct others on the application of complex curation processes to various projects. They should also have strong interpersonal skills and should enjoy leading, coordinating, organizing, and interacting with diverse groups of people. They should be a self-starter who is capable of independently and creatively identifying and resolving issues and exploring new ideas to enhance progress while maintaining strong communication with the UNC Biocuration and Coordination Core members as well as external collaborators. A strong work ethic and sense of purpose are desired. Also, the selected candidate should have knowledge of the scientific principles of biology, specifically the central dogma of genetics and a basic understanding of physiology and disease.

Qualified candidates should demonstrate effective verbal and written communication, excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and hold high professional standards for their own work and that of others.

The University is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all to apply without regard to age, color, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. We encourage all qualified applicants to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.