Senior Technician

Job Type

Job Type: Support Staff - Union

Bargaining Unit: SSA

Regular/Temporary: Regular

End Date if Temporary:

Hours Per Week: 35

Standard Work Schedule:

Building:

Salary Range: $61,692.40-$61,692.40

Position Summary

Key responsibilities for the position include:

• Specimen accessioning & receipt, receive, log, and accessioning clinical specimens into HistoTrac and EPIC Beaker, ensuring accurate patient identification and test selection
• Coordinate and document specimen pickup and receipt from hospital, dialysis centers, and other outreach locations
• Verify specimen labeling, integrity, collection date/time, and transport conditions; escalate discrepancies according to laboratory SOPs. Track specimens from receipt through testing completion, ensuring correct linkage between physical specimens and electronic records

Responsibilities

• 55% Data Entry & Order Processing
• Enter and verify test orders, specimen information, and status updates in HistoTrac and EPIC Beaker
• Correct data entry errors, process order cancellations, and update specimen records in coordination with laboratory leadership
• 20% Communication & Coordination
• Communicate with laboratory staff, transplant coordinators, and clinical teams to resolve specimen or order issues
• Serve as a point of contact for accessioning and outreach-related questions
• Ensure clear documentation and handoff of specimen-related issues
• 20% Quality & Compliance Support
• Maintain data accuracy, traceability, and confidentiality in accordance with ASHI, CAP, CLIA, NYSDOH, UNOS/OPTN, and institutional policies
• Follow established SOPs for specimen handling, accessioning, and outreach workflows
• Support audits and inspections by providing accession records and documentation as needed
• 5% - Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, Medical Laboratory Science, Health Informatics, or a related field and one-half years of related experience or equivalent in education, training and experience.
• Experience with specimen accessioning, order entry, and laboratory information systems
• Strong attention to detail and understanding of patient identification and specimen integrity

Preferred Qualifications

• 2 years of experience in a clinical laboratory or healthcare environment
• Experience working with the clinical specimens accessioning process and familiarity with the EPIC medical information system

Other Requirements

Skills and Competencies:

• High accuracy in specimen tracking and data entry
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to manage multiple specimens and priorities in a time-sensitive clinical setting
• Working knowledge of laboratory compliance and confidentiality requirements
• Frequent interaction with laboratory technologists, the laboratory management team, and transplant coordinators
• Ability to work in a high-volume clinical histocompatibility and immunogenetics laboratory with frequent interaction with laboratory technologists, the laboratory management team, and transplant coordinators

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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