Clinical Research Specialist - Guzman Lab - Brain Donation Program​/Department of Neurology

Job Description

Cedars‑Sinai’s autopsy program helps understand why dementia develops and how treatment can be improved. The program is a partnership between the Neurology Department and interested patients and families to obtain an autopsy shortly after death to study the brain, spinal cord, and other tissues of individuals with memory disorders.

Note: Scheduling flexibility including evening, weekend, and holiday rotation commitments may be necessary.

Dr. Samuel J. Guzman is a board-certified neuropathologist and physician‑scientist. Dr. Guzman's research focuses on spatial transcriptomics, brain banking, and clinicopathologic correlation in disorders including Alzheimer disease, hippocampal sclerosis‑associated epilepsy, autoimmune neurologic disease, and related neurodegenerative conditions. His work combines neuropathology, neuroimaging, and emerging molecular platforms to investigate mechanisms of neuronal vulnerability, neuroinflammation, and neurovascular dysfunction.

About the Role

As a Clinical Research Specialist I, you will provide clinical research knowledge by participating in the design and implementation of research projects as needed. This position is responsible for specific and assigned aspects of research infrastructure development, coordinates projects, and communicates status to leadership.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

• Coordinates research projects at an institutional or departmental level.
• Communicates project status and improvement areas with leadership in a timely manner.
• Projects may include, but are not limited to investigator‑initiated protocol development including protocol writing, case report form development, budget development, and coordination of departmental research committees.
• Provides guidance regarding project planning, project logistics, and project implementation.
• May implement and coordinate department‑wide initiatives such as research quality management or clinical trial recruitment efforts.
• Ensures compliance with all federal and local agencies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local Institutional Review Board.
• Maintains research practices using Good Clinical Practice (GCP) guidelines.
• Maintains strict patient confidentiality according to HIPAA regulations and applicable law.
• Participates in required training and education programs.

Department‑Specific Information:

Brain Bank Coordinator (Donor & Operations)

Primary Focus:
Donor coordination, family communication, and rapid autopsy logistics.

• Serves as primary contact for donor families, hospice, and clinical teams.
• Participates in 24/7 on‑call rotation for donor death notifications.
• Coordinates overnight and weekend brain donations and rapid autopsies.
• Coordinates with diener services for tissue procurement.
• Ensure consent, documentation, and regulatory compliance.
• Coordinate CSF and plasma collection with clinical and research labs.
• Maintain donor database and clinical metadata.
• Track bio‑specimen distribution.

Education:

• Bachelor's degree is required.

Experience:

• 3 years of proven experience in area of research specialty is required.