Project Coordinator/Administrator

Carnegie Mellon University is a private, global research university that stands among the world’s most renowned education institutions. With ground-breaking brain science, path-breaking performances, creative start-ups, big data, big ambitions, hands-on learning, and a whole lot of robots, CMU doesn’t imagine the future, we invent it. If you’re passionate about joining a community that challenges the curious to deliver work that matters, your journey starts here!

The Engineering Research Accelerator (ERA) bolsters the College’s initiatives to enhance our presence and influence in both national and international research forums. This enables us to effectively share our insights and discoveries on emerging issues. We establish strong industry connections and seek new partnerships to collaboratively develop solutions to wide-ranging problems. These solutions have the potential to generate economic value through innovative products that are useful, usable, and desirable in the marketplace.

The Biomedical Engineering Department is seeking a highly motivated and proactive professional who thrives in a dynamic environment, excels at multitasking, and is enthusiastic about joining our team. The Program Manager will provide comprehensive coordination and management support—both administrative and operational—for research programs and initiatives within the Feinberg Research group with a lead Project Manager role for the LIVE project, a multi-institutional initiative focused on developing transplantable bioprinted liver constructs. This encompasses the full pipeline of organ biofabrication—from computational design and advanced bioprinting to bioreactor maturation and in vivo validation. The LIVE project represents a bold and collaborative effort to overcome the most critical barriers in organ biofabrication and regenerative medicine. As part of the ARPA-H PRINT program, our goal is to develop a fully functional, immunocompetent, bioprinted human liver construct capable of clinical transplantation. The position may involve working on multiple projects, often with shifting priorities, timelines, scopes, and activities. Project assignments are flexible and based on evolving needs. The Project Manager will also perform similar activities for select additional collaborative research projects in the Feinberg lab, such as the Additional Ventures Cures Collaborative project. This position regularly handles sensitive matters and requires maintaining strict confidentiality and discretion. This position will also require adaptability and openness to change as the department and organization evolve. 

Responsibilities:

Research Program Administration:

• Assist the Principal Investigator (Dr. Adam Feinberg) with timeline and resource management to ensure timely delivery of artifacts and ensure that the project meets the performance goals and milestones.  

• Create slides and deliverables along with relevant technical personnel. Projects might include but are not limited to data collection, analysis, and dissemination.

• Maintain program websites and draft effective communications with project personnel, campus community, and external stakeholders including sponsors. Serves as the point of contact with sponsors when required of position.

• Collect and track project updates from research teams and emerging initiatives.

• Facilitate project documentation in digital forms (e.g. spreadsheets, databases, and project management software and collaboration tools).

• Maintain a repository/catalog of research outputs. • Tracks and supports research compliance requirements on supported awards including human subjects (IRB) and animal (IACUC) protocols, clinical trials, export controls, and other compliance related requirements.

• Program support may include supporting calls for projects by creating online submission forms, assisting with coordinating web presence for specific programs, and point of contact for submissions, initial reviews and compilation for reviewers.

• Assist with the development of award or project related policies and procedures

• Support coordination of shared resources and facilities as needed by project teams.

• The majority time will be spent supporting the ARPA-H LIVE project. Additional time will be focused on support other collaborative grants in the Feinberg lab. 

Research Group Mentoring:

• Acts as a liaison between the PI and lab members to provide mentorship and professional guidance to graduate students, undergraduate researchers, and other trainees, including regular one-on-one meetings, feedback on research progress, support with experimental design, data analysis, and review of publications.
• Foster a collaborative and inclusive lab culture by facilitating research group meetings, coordinating shared workflows, promoting best practices in data documentation enabling reproducibility of research.
• Mentoring in Research Methods & Experimental Design
  • Guide students in designing rigorous experiments, selecting controls, and aligning methods with research goals.
  • Support students working on externally funded biomanufacturing projects where the lab serves as the central fabrication hub.
• Data Analysis & Interpretation
  •  Advise students on quantitative and qualitative data analysis approaches, reproducibility, and documentation.
  • Provide feedback on data interpretation, troubleshooting, and preparation of scientific figures.
• Scientific Communication & Professional Development
  •  Mentor students in technical writing for fellowships, manuscripts, abstracts, reports, and sponsor communications.
  •  Support development of oral presentation skills and scientific communication strategies.
  • Facilitate a collaborative and inclusive lab culture through coordinated group workflows and expectations.
• Training & Onboarding
  • Support onboarding of new members, including training on lab processes, safety, documentation, and project-specific procedures.

Meetings & Events - Coordination and Communications:

• Facilitate program activities and coordinates key meetings and events for the senior project personnel.
• Arrange and attend essential project meetings, take meeting notes, distribute and archive notes along with ensuring that action items are clearly communicated to responsible parties
• Organize events and meetings with faculty, students, industry or government partners, and external collaborators.
• Extensive Calendar Management for all supported projects.
• Assist with planning and execution of symposiums, workshops, proposal meetings, and public events. Activities include managing logistics such as securing space, arranging catering, facilitating visitor’s travel, and setting the agenda.
• Ensure seamless coordination between research initiatives and internal administrative processes.

Administrative & Financial Tracking:

• Facilitate agreements processing and administrative processes along with the research administration team at the Engineering Research Accelerator
• Support financial tracking for grant and project budgets along with the Research Administration team/Post Award Financial POC.
• Help maintain personnel documentation for supported program portfolios.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Assistance in technical writing for research proposal preparation 

​You must demonstrate:

• Experience working in an academic research environment for 5 years
• Expertise with data management skills (Excel formulas)
• Previous project coordination and management experience
• Experience with website design, HTML and CSS; comfort with technology and learning new software tools
• Excellent verbal and written communication; interpersonal skills are essential
• Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail and ability to meet sometimes inflexible timelines
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
• Background in a science related field 

Adaptability, excellence, and passion are vital qualities within Carnegie Mellon University. We are in search of a team member who can effectively interact with a varied population of internal and external partners at a high level of integrity. We are looking for someone who shares our values and who will support the mission of the university through their work.

Qualifications:

• Advanced degree in STEM required; Masters/MS degree in STEM preferable.
• Three (3) to five (5) years’ project management and relevant work experience in managing research awards is required.
• A combination of education and relevant experience from which comparable knowledge is demonstrated may be considered.

Requirements:

• Successful background check

Joining the CMU team opens the door to an array of exceptional benefits.

Benefits eligible employees enjoy a wide array of benefits including comprehensive medical, prescription, dental, and vision insuranceas well as a generous retirement savings program with employer contributions. Unlock your potential with tuition benefits, take well-deserved breaks with ample paid time off and observed holidays, and rest easy with life and accidental death and disability insurance. 

Additional perks include a free Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus pass, access to our Family Concierge Team to help navigate childcare needs, fitness center access, and much more!

For a comprehensive overview of the benefits available, explore our Benefits page.

At Carnegie Mellon, we value the whole package when extending offers of employment. Beyond credentials, we evaluate the role and responsibilities, your valuable work experience, and the knowledge gained through education and training. We appreciate your unique skills and the perspective you bring. Your journey with us is about more than just a job; it’s about finding the perfect fit for your professional growth and personal aspirations.

Are you interested in an exciting opportunity with an exceptional organization?! Apply today!

Location

Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function

Program, Project and Operations Management

Position Type

Staff – Regular

Full Time/Part time

Full time

Pay Basis

Salary

More Information: