Temporary Technical Assistant

The University of Missouri Columbia School of Medicine Department of Medical Research Office

The Temporary Technical Assistant will support the Biorepository in maintaining compliance with legal, clinical, and environmental regulations. This role is essential in ensuring the proper custody, handling, and disposal of clinical samples and laboratory materials. The position contributes directly to both patient care and research by supporting the integrity of biospecimens used in clinical trials, legal cases, and research studies.

Key Responsibilities:

* Track and maintain custody of clinical samples for clinical trials and legal cases, ensuring compliance with the Department of Pathology's requirement to retain paraffin-embedded tissues for 10 years.
* Assist with the check-in and check-out of customer samples, perform accurate data entry, and maintain a secure chain of custody.
* Support legal requests by preparing slides, images, or tissue samples for patients and legal teams.
* Assist with Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) compliance, including the proper labeling and disposal of histology chemicals and solvents.
* Wash laboratory glassware and maintain clean workspaces to support efficient operations.
* Free up histotechnologists to focus on specialized work by providing hands-on support with routine technical tasks.
* Process blood samples when collections staff are processing tissue samples, ensuring timely handling so samples remain viable.
* Support biospecimen collection and processing shortly after removal to preserve scientific value.
* Help ensure patient eligibility for clinical trials through accurate tissue and blood sample preparation, as well as assisting with rare sample collection for research purposes.
* Provide backup coverage when full-time staff members are absent, contributing to consistent workflow and operations.
* Maintain accurate documentation and adhere to established laboratory and institutional protocols.

Work Environment:

This temporary position is based in the Biorepository within the Office of Medical Research. The role requires adherence to safety standards and handling of sensitive materials in a regulated laboratory environment.

The typical hours are between 7:00 AM and 5:00 PM; however, the schedule may vary as this is a part-time position.

Qualifications:
* Prior laboratory or technical support experience preferred, but not required.
* Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
* Ability to follow strict protocols and compliance procedures.
* Familiarity with handling biospecimens and/or knowledge of clinical trial processes is a plus.
* Commitment to accuracy, safety, and confidentiality.

Salary Range:$15.00 - $16.00
Grade: GGS-MKT
University Title: TEMPORARY TECHNICAL
Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

In addition to filling out the online application please provide a resume.

This position is not eligible for University benefits. Individuals in non benefit eligible positions may choose to participate in the Tax Deferred Annuity Plan (403b). For information about this plan, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/totalrewards/benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.