Senior Research Assistant, Centre of Oncological Research in Surgery (COORS)

Introduction

The Aga Khan University, chartered in 1983 as Pakistan's first private international university, is committed to the provision of education, research, and health care of international standards relevant to Pakistan and the region. The affiliated Aga Khan University Hospital has well-equipped investigative services and provides state-of-the-art clinical facilities.

The newly established Centre of Oncological Research in Surgery (COORS) envisions amplifying surgical oncology research, addressing challenges in limited-resource settings. With a foundation in diverse research, from basic to social and epidemiological sciences, combined with translational efforts and pivotal clinical trials, our goal is to redefine cancer care at the Aga Khan University and beyond, focusing on innovative, cost-effective treatments and early detection. Initiated with funding supported by the Jenabai Hussainali Shariff Family, COORS is set to become a pioneering cancer research center in Pakistan.

As an equal opportunity employer, AKU believes in promoting a diverse and inclusive culture and is committed to adopting appropriate standards for safeguarding and promoting a respectful relationship with and between the diverse workforce of its faculty, staff, trainees, volunteers, beneficiaries, wider communities, and other stakeholders with whom it works, including children and vulnerable adults and expects all employees/trainees and partners to share this commitment.

The Aga Khan University invites applications for the position of Senior Research Assistant in the Centre of Oncological Research in Surgery (COORS).

Responsibilities:

You will be responsible for:

• regular presence in operating rooms during scheduled surgical procedures
• may require early mornings, variable hours, or on-call availability depending on surgery schedules
• requires standing for extended periods and adherence to surgical attire protocols
• coordinate and perform sample collection in operating rooms and collection point according to approved research protocols
• maintain strict adherence to sterile technique, infection control, and hospital safety guidelines
• label, process, store, and transport specimens according to study requirements
• maintain accurate and complete documentation of sample collection and associated metadata
• ensure compliance with IRB/ethics approvals and institutional policies
• communicate effectively with surgeons, anesthesiologists, nursing staff, and laboratory teams
• monitor inventory of supplies related to sample collection
• assist with data entry and quality control checks as needed
• participate in team meetings and provide updates on study progress

Requirements:

You should have:

• Bachelor's Degree in life sciences, nursing, biomedical sciences, or related feild
• experience working in clinical or hospital settings and proficiency with isolation of nucleic acids
• familiarity with biospecimen handling and standard laboratory practices
• strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• ability to work in a fast-paced operating room environment
• excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Comprehensive reference checks will be conducted.

Only shortlisted candidates will be selected.