Junior Specialist Department of Public Health Science

Position Overview

Salary range: The estimated salary range for a Junior Specialist is $55,000 or $26.35/hour at step 1, or $58,600 or $28.07/hour at step 2.

Open date: February 8, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Feb 23, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Tuesday, Jun 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time). Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

The position of Specialist has a narrow focus in a specialized area and provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment or with social science research methods) in the planning and execution of a research project. The Specialist stays apprised of emerging issues and problems and maintains technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization. Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to supply input into the planning of research and educational programs.

Normally, Specialists do not have Principal Investigator (PI) status but may obtain permission by exception and/or collaborate with a PI in preparing research proposals for extramural funding. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using three basic criteria outlined below.

• Follow IRB approved study protocols, working under direction from the PI and Senior Clinical Research Coordinator. Participate in research visits and procedures including administering informed consent, administering questionnaires and protocol-directed procedures, data collection, documentation, and data entry into study databases.
• Coordinate laboratory maintenance tasks, including safety management, maintaining inventory of supplies, and managing lab waste.
• Facilitate and monitor biological specimen collection from collection through processing and eventually accessioning in the freezers for long term storage.
• Oversee all specimen‑related activities for assigned studies including biobanking of specimens for use in future studies; preparing and labeling specimen collection kits, ensuring all clinical sites are adequately stocked with collection kits; receiving specimens from clinical sites; accessioning specimens in the LIMS system (Freezerworks) with relevant metadata, and ensuring specimen placement in appropriate freezers.
• Conduct quality control, including testing and modifying standard operating procedures for specimen collection and processing, and conducting pilot studies of all assays to ensure high reproducibility before sending participant specimens for analysis.
• Prepare specimens for shipping to external laboratories according to appropriate university guidelines.

• Complete and maintain IRB required education, including CITI courses for Social & Behavioral Research and Good Clinical Practice.
• Attend and participate in regular study meetings with the PI and study team where progress of the work will be discussed.

• Participate in activities of committees within the department, college, campus and other University entities, as appropriate, such as the annual Cancer Center Research Symposium.
• Mentor and train undergraduate or student interns working with the study team.

The estimated salary range for a Junior Specialist is $26.35/hour at step one or $28.07/hour at step 2.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate that they are legally authorized to work in the United States. The University will not offer sponsorship of a visa for this position.

Bachelors of Science degree in Biotechnology, Global Disease Biology or a related field.

The successful candidate must be able to demonstrate…