Senior Technician

Columbia University; New York (NY); On-site; USD 55,523 - 67,861; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university in New York is looking for a Support Staff member responsible for specimen accessioning and data entry. The role requires a bachelor's degree in a relevant field and attention to detail. Responsibilities include verifying test orders and ensuring compliance with laboratory standards. The ideal candidate has experience in a clinical laboratory and strong communication skills. This position offers a structured schedule in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with specimen accessioning and order entry.
• Strong understanding of patient identification process.
• Familiarity with laboratory information systems.

Responsibilities

• Enter and verify test orders, specimen information, and status updates.
• Communicate with laboratory staff to resolve specimen issues.
• Maintain data accuracy and confidentiality in accordance with regulations.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in biology, Medical Laboratory Science, Health Informatics, or related field

Tools

EPIC medical information system

Job description

• 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

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

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; elevate 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 andand 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 familiarizing 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.