Neurology - Support Services Specialist (Genetics)
The University of Iowa Health Care Department of Neurology is seeking a Support Services Specialist to support the Charcot Marie Tooth Disease (CMT) Clinic, as well as the International Neuropathies Consortium (INC).
This position will primarily focus on CMT research-related projects and post-aware administration of research grants, including communication with INC sites, onboarding new sites, and database upkeep. Additionally, this position will perform administrative duties related to genetic counseling, including interacting with patients and families with Inherited Peripheral Neuropathies, health care providers, researchers, and genetic counselors.
This position provides valuable experience in rare disease research and multidisciplinary clinical care, with mentoring from a world-renowned research scientist and clinician, an experienced clinical trials research nurse, and an empathetic and passionate genetic counselor. This is an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in taking a gap year to obtain direct patient experience, deepen their understanding of genetic research, and collaborate with patient advocacy groups before applying to genetic counseling graduate school. All six individuals who have previously held this position were directly accepted into a genetic counseling graduate program.
Duties to Include:
- Manages overall site coordination and activation as related to INC projects.
- Assists INC Project Managers in preparing for grant cycles.
- Participates in research operations for INC studies, including recruitment, data acquisition, data management, and human subject applications submissions through the IRB.
- Reviews proposals, ensures completeness, and routes proposals through proper channels.
- May handle purchase of supplies and materials, travel-related costs, and reconciliation of statements as associated with the CMT Clinic team.
- Assists the INC Project Manager in monitoring contract/grant terms and compliances in accordance with University policies and state and federal regulations.
- Prepares and provides preparatory or follow-up communications with patients and families attending the UI CMT Clinic, their referring providers, and genetic testing laboratories.
- Assists the INC genetic counselors with novel gene discovery protocol, including sample tracking, communicating with research genetic testing laboratories, and assessing large research variant databases for novel CMT-associated genes.
- Coordinates, organizes, and advertises the annual Neurogenetics Symposium hosted by the Department of Neurology, including communication with speakers, registrants, catering, and vendors.
For full job description, please send request to contact below.
Percent of Effort: 100%
Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8-hour shifts between the hours of 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM. This position does not work weekends or UI-recognized holidays.
Note: Expected start date in July 2025 but may be changed with approval from hiring supervisor.
The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center—recognized as one of the best hospitals in the United States—is Iowa's only comprehensive academic medical center and a regional referral center. Each day more than 12,000 employees, students, and volunteers work together to provide safe, quality health care and excellent service for our patients. Simply stated, our mission is: Changing Medicine. Changing Lives. ®
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Excellent organizational skills and efficiency with time management.
- Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of populations.
- Demonstrated professional attitude in regard to motivation, cooperation, flexibility, reliability, confidentiality, ethics, and personal development.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including communicating (written and verbally) effectively with clinical care teams, patients/families, and project researchers.
Desired Qualifications
- An interest in genetic counseling as a profession.
- Previous experience with direct patient care and patient research.
Please attach a resume and cover letter (under submission relevant materials) as part of the application process. Job openings are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days. This job may be removed from posting and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.
Successful candidates will be required to self-disclose any conviction history and will be subject to a criminal background check and credential/education verification. Up to 5 professional references will be requested at a later step in the recruitment process.
For additional questions, please contact Erin Curry at 319-356-7355 or erin-curry@uiowa.edu.
Equal opportunity/affirmative action employer
The University of Iowa is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment free from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth and related conditions), disability, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, service in the U.S. military, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preferences.
Persons with disabilities who need assistance or accommodations with the application or interview process may contact University Human Resources/Faculty and Staff Disability Services, (319) 335-2660 or fsds@uiowa.edu. For jobs in UI Health care, please contact UI Health care Leave & Disability Administration at 319-356-7543.
