Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q) is a pioneering institution, established in 2001 as a partnership between Cornell University and Qatar Foundation. As the first medical school in Qatar, WCM-Q offers an integrated Six-Year Medical Program leading to a Cornell University M.D. degree and is a cornerstone of Education City—a global hub for elite universities. With a mission centered on cutting-edge research, exceptional medical education, and community healthcare, WCM-Q operates at the forefront of biomedical science in the region, necessitating the highest standards of laboratory safety and compliance.
Table of Contents
Job Title: Coordinator, Research Biosafety
Full-Time
📍 Location: Doha, Qatar 🇶🇦
Company: Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar (WCM-Q)
Apply nowPosition Overview: Coordinator, Research Biosafety
Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar is seeking a detail-oriented and scientifically literate professional to join as a Coordinator, Research Biosafety. This critical role sits at the intersection of scientific research, regulatory compliance, and administrative coordination. You will be the operational backbone of the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), responsible for coordinating reviews, facilitating training, maintaining safety records, and ensuring adherence to national and international biosafety standards. This position is ideal for someone with a biosafety or EHS background who excels in organizing complex processes within a prestigious research environment.
Key Responsibilities
The successful candidate will be entrusted with the following core duties across three key areas:
Committee & Regulatory Coordination:
- IBC Administration: Serve as the primary administrative contact for the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). Manage application submissions from Principal Investigators (PIs), schedule meetings, prepare agendas, document minutes, and ensure quorum.
- Regulatory Compliance: Assist in preparing and submitting institutional registrations, assurances, and amendments to the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). Maintain documentation for annual Biosafety Level (BSL) re-verification.
Training, Inspection & Safety Programs:
- Training Coordination: Organize and coordinate the biosafety training program for researchers and staff, assisting with logistics and delivery.
- Inspections & Audits: Support the scheduling, execution, and reporting of annual Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) laboratory inspections. Assist in preparing animal facilities for certification and maintain logs for export control audits.
- Inventory & Health Monitoring: Help maintain chemical inventories and coordinate certification of hazardous equipment. Assist researchers with occupational health medical screening requirements.
Protocol Review & Record Management:
- Protocol Pre-Review: Assist in reviewing research protocols, grants, and reports against checklists to ensure proper risk management and ethical approvals are in place before research begins.
- Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and current training, credentialing, and safety records for all researchers and committee members.
Candidate Requirements (Mandatory)
| Requirement Category | Specific Qualification |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s Degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), or a closely related scientific/health discipline. |
| Experience | 3-5 years of professional experience in biosafety, environmental health & safety, or a related field within a research, healthcare, or scientific setting. |
| Technical Knowledge | Understanding of basic medical/research terminology and biosafety principles. Experience with regulatory compliance is advantageous. |
| Skills & Abilities | Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to multi-task under deadlines. Strong written/verbal communication and problem-solving skills. Must maintain strict confidentiality. |
| Technical Proficiency | Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). |
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal coordinator for this role will be:
- A meticulous and process-driven administrator who understands the critical importance of precision and compliance in a biosafety context.
- An effective communicator and facilitator, able to liaise between researchers, committee members, and regulatory bodies with clarity and professionalism.
- Proactive and collaborative, with the ability to work independently on tasks while being an integral part of the larger EHS and research support teams.
- Passionate about supporting scientific research by ensuring a safe, compliant, and efficient operational framework.
What Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar Offers
- Impactful Role: Play a vital part in safeguarding cutting-edge medical research at a world-renowned Ivy League institution.
- Professional Environment: Work within the prestigious Education City alongside leading scientists and academics in a culturally diverse setting.
- Career Development: Gain invaluable experience in research compliance and biosafety administration within a top-tier global organization.
- Comprehensive Benefits: A competitive employment package befitting a premier academic and research institution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is a pure administrative background sufficient for this role?
No. While strong administrative skills are crucial, the scientific educational requirement (Microbiology, Biochemistry, EHS, etc.) and understanding of research terminology are mandatory. This ensures you can accurately review protocols and communicate effectively with researchers.
2. What is the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)?
The IBC is a mandatory regulatory committee that reviews, approves, and oversees all research involving biohazardous materials (e.g., recombinant DNA, pathogens, toxins) to ensure it is conducted safely and ethically.
3. How involved is this role with Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH)?
You will directly assist in preparing and submitting official documentation (registrations, assurances, amendments) to the MoPH, which is the national regulatory authority for biosafety in Qatar. This is a core compliance duty.
4. Is this a lab-based technical role or an office-based coordination role?
This is primarily an office-based coordination and administration role. However, it involves supporting lab inspections, understanding lab workflows, and interacting closely with lab personnel, so familiarity with the laboratory environment is essential.
How to Apply
If you are a professional with a biosafety/EHS background and exceptional organizational skills, seeking to support groundbreaking research in a world-class institution, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar encourages you to apply.
Submit your application via the official listing:
👉 Apply for Coordinator, Research Biosafety Position
Uphold the highest standards of research safety and compliance in Doha, Qatar 🇶🇦.