Research Technician

Columbia University Irving Medical Center

Recruitment began on October 31, 2025

and the job listing Expires on December 1, 2025

Columbia University Fertility Center is one of the preeminent fertility centers in the U.S. We are a team of compassionate and dedicated physicians, nurses, embryologists, scientists, technicians, medical assistants, patient financial coordinators, and others, all working together to provide exceptional care to our patients and help them achieve their dreams of building a family.

Our purpose is to bring life into the world. We have a proud history that goes back decades and has been growing rapidly thanks to our amazing team. We offer great benefits, opportunities for continued personal and professional development, and a very supportive environment. We are looking for individuals who want to join our team and grow together.

In this position, you will be the technician responsible for the daily operations of the STAR System (Sperm Tracking and Recovery) an AI-powered, microfluidic platform that was designed, developed, and only available in our lab. The STAR System finds and recovers extremely rare sperm in patients who had been previously told they had none. This remarkable technology is helping patients previously diagnosed with azoospermia achieve biological fatherhood (featured by BBC, The Washington Post, and recognized as the best inventions of 2025 by the TIME Magazine)

Are you passionate about advancing medicine through hands-on innovation? The Research and Development (R&D) Laboratory at Columbia University Fertility Center (CUFC)—ranked the #1 fertility center in the U.S. by Newsweek—invites applications for a Laboratory Coordinator I to join our pioneering team.

This is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research and technologies that are transforming fertility care and patient outcomes.

Located at the intersection of science, engineering, and clinical care, CUFC’s R&D Laboratory is embedded within Columbia University Fertility Center, 5 Columbus Circle, and is home to a multidisciplinary team of scientists, engineers, embryologists, and physicians. We take an engineering-first, solution-oriented approach, identifying critical unmet needs in fertility and reproductive medicine, and developing breakthrough technologies to address them.

• The STAR System (Sperm Tracking and Recovery)—an AI-powered, microfluidic platform helping men previously diagnosed with azoospermia to achieve biological fatherhood.
• Automated robotics improving IVF workflows
• Nanopore-based DNA sequencing for point-of-care genetic testing
• At-home sperm collection kits.
• Smart Scales to add an extra layer of safety to cryopreserved embryos, eggs, and sperm.

• Perform sample preparation, operate and monitor and perform post-run processing for the STAR system
• Maintain and calibrate associated instruments (camera, syringe pumps, valves etc.)
• Log, analyze, and summarize run data for research documentation
• Coordinate with clinical embryologists for cryofreezing and workflow integration
• Communicate professionally and empathetically with patients regarding sample handling, scheduling, and procedure status.

• Conceive, design, and execute experiments under the guidance and supervision of mentors
• Work hands-on in a fast-paced lab alongside scientists, embryologists, and physicians
• Assist in the development and validation of new technologies, assays, and devices
• Sample receiving, accessioning, processing, and storage
• Develop and document protocols, findings, and recommendations
• Maintain inventory, request supplies, and verify receipt and storage

• Assist in writing, submitting, and executing IRB-approved research protocols
• Observe and contribute to the conduct of IRB-approved clinical studies
• Assist with data entry, organization, and reporting for clinical research and regulatory…