Wisconsin Brain Donor Program Specialist

The Wisconsin Brain Donor Program Specialist serves as the primary operational lead for the Wisconsin Brain Donation Program (WBDP), overseeing the coordination of all brain donation cases and associated research activities. This position manages the full lifecycle of donor participation, including recruitment and outreach, informed consent, on-call donation coordination, biospecimen processing oversight, and post-donation follow-up with families. This position operates in a dynamic environment that requires balancing field-based donation work, laboratory coordination, and administrative responsibilities, often under tight timelines and with evolving research protocols.

The role requires continuous coordination of time-sensitive, high-complexity donation events, including participation in a 24/7 on-call rotation, response to pager notifications, and coordination of staff and logistics for autopsy and tissue recovery procedures. The role ensures that all donation cases are appropriately staffed.

In addition to donation operations, this position performs advanced tissue and biofluid workflows, including precision slicing, ex vivo MRI coordination, embedding, and other post-donation processing activities that significantly extend case timelines. The position is responsible for maintaining strict adherence to research protocols, regulatory requirements, and biospecimen quality standards.

This position also manages data collection within REDCap and LIMS, documentation, and quality control processes, including complex data entry across multiple studies, bi-annual audits, and tracking of participant and sample information. Administrative responsibilities include coordinating meetings, managing resource and sample requests, maintaining communication with internal and external collaborators, and supporting conference and education activities by contributing to data curations and manuscripts, as well as creating abstracts.

A significant component of the role involves direct interaction with participants and donor families, including conducting phone-based consenting, follow-up communications, and bereavement outreach such as condolence correspondence. This position represents the program at outreach and community engagement events and contributes to participant recruitment efforts.

• This position requires work to be completed onsite, at a designated campus work location.

• Core on-site work hours are Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Position also requires participation in a 24/7 on-call rotation, so candidate must have on-call night and weekend availability as needed.

• This position has been identified as a position of trust with access to vulnerable populations.The selected candidate will be required to pass an initial caregiver check to be eligible for employment under the Wisconsin Caregiver Law and every four years.

• Reviews, analyzes, and interprets data and/or documents results for presentations and/or reporting to internal and external audiences

• Assists with brain-only autopsies for brain donation procurements. Performs post-donation technical tasks including tissue embedding, precision slicing, MRI coordination, biofluid processing, etc. Manages specimen storage, inventory, freezer maintenance, and biorepository logistics

• Participates in the development, interpretation, and implementation of research methodology and materials

• Operates, cleans, and maintains organization of research equipment and research area. Tracks inventory levels and places replenishment orders

• Conducts research experiments according to established research protocols with moderate impact to the project(s). Collects data and monitors test results

• Performs literature reviews and writes reports

• Provides operational guidance on day-to-day activities of unit or program staff and/or student workers

School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics & Gerontology, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Brain Donor Program

Fueled by innovation yet grounded in kindness, the Department of Medicineempowers leaders to transform medicine and improve lives everywhere. We are committed to professional fulfillment and health equity.We strive to ensure that everyone in our department understands the importance of social impact and belonging-and is empowered to champion it in all they do.Join us and be a part of supporting our nationally recognized faculty, innovative medical education programs and exceptional clinical care as we work towards our vision of healthy people and healthy communities!

At theDivision of Geriatrics and Gerontology, we help older adults live their healthiest lives. We lead comprehensive education,researchand clinical programs-in partnership with our world-class university, remarkable healthsystemand regional Veterans hospital. We are innovative, collaborative and compassionate. We strive for excellence and health equity. And we make an impact in Wisconsin and beyond.

The starting salary for the position is $50,000 annually; but is negotiable based on experience and qualifications.

Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and sick leave; competitive insurances and savings accounts; retirement benefits. For more information, refer to the campus benefits webpage and the SMPH Faculty /Academic Staff Benefits Flyer 2026.

• Minimum 2 years' experience working in a laboratory, clinical, or research setting

• Minimum 1 year experience working with human or mammalian tissue, tissue dissection, or performing autopsy/necropsy

Bachelor's Degree preferred; focus in biology, health sciences, or related field preferred

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To apply for this position, select either "I am a current employee" or "I am not a current employee" under Apply Now. You will then be prompted to upload your application materials.

Important: The application has only one attachment field. Upload the following documents in that field, either as a single combined file or as multiple files in the same upload area.

• Cover letter (preferred)

• Resume (required)

Your cover letter should address how your training and experience aligns with the required and preferred qualifications listed above. Application reviewers will rely on these written materials to determine which applicants move forward in the process. References will be requested from final candidates. All applicants will be notified once the search concludes and a candidate is selected

University sponsorship is not available for this position, including transfers of sponsorship and TN visas.The selected applicant will be responsible for ensuring their continuous eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of an employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.This position is an ongoing position that will require continuous work eligibility.If you are selected for this position you must provide proof of work authorization and eligibility to work.

Crystal Karas, ckaras@medicine.wisc.edu, 608-265-2699

Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

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Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence by acknowledging skills and expertise from all backgroundsand encourage all qualified individuals to apply. For more information regarding applicant and employee rights and to view federal and state required postings, visit the Human Resources Workplace Poster website.

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Employment may require a criminal background check. It may also require your references to answer questions regarding misconduct, including sexual violence and sexual harassment.

The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).

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