Internships, Jobs, and Volunteer Opportunities for Prospective GC Students

Looking for an internship, job, or volunteer position to gain experience related to genetic counseling in the Maryland/DC area?

Please browse the list of current positions below.

Additional information can be found by following the link to each posting.

To submit a job posting or to remove a posting for a job that has been filled, please click here.

Current Postings

  • Genetic Counselor Assistant - Johns Hopkins Hospital Prenatal Genetics Clinic, Baltimore, MD

    • Under direct supervision by genetic counselors and guided by the procedures of Ambulatory Services, we are seeking a Genetic Counselor Assistant who will be responsible for supporting the clinical work of the Johns Hopkins Prenatal Genetics office. This will involve direct contact with the genetic counselors (GC), patient service coordinators, other team members, referring providers and patients. The GCA works as a team member with other practice staff and consistently projects a professional and courteous demeanor. They must pay close attention to detail and demonstrate excellent customer service skills with patients and staff.

    • Under the supervision by genetic counselors, the Genetic Counselor Assistant (GCA) will work primarily with the clinical genetic counselors (GCs) to assist with all aspects of patient care. The GCA is responsible for collaborating with GCs, other clinicians, patients and hospital staff in the operational functioning of the genetic counseling clinical activities to ensure optimal communication and efficient services are provided; thus, meeting the needs of patients and families served by the genetic counseling program.

    • More information and application can be found at: https://jobs.jhu.edu/job/Baltimore-Genetic-Counselor-Assistant-MD-21287/1175289700/

  • Clinical Research Specialist - University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

    • The University of Maryland, Baltimore, University of Maryland School of Medicine - Division of Endocrinology is currently recruiting for a Clinical Research Specialist. The selected candidate will plan and carry out key elements of clinical research for the Program in Personalized and Genomic Medicine. This position will be responsible for developing protocols, IRB submissions, operating procedures, consenting and recruitment of research subjects, ensuring implementation and documentation of research procedures and protocols using various complex activities. This program is multifaceted and requires flexibility. The selected candidate will function as a single specialist in a research setting and is responsible for providing the highest technical expertise to conducting and overseeing clinical research activities.

    • Primary Duties:

      • Performs as a single specialist in a clinical setting who is responsible for providing technical expertise to research programs and projects overseeing clinical research activities. The position develops, recommends, modifies, and implements policies and procedures for clinical research, as well as develop protocol manuals and data collection instruments. This position significantly contributes to the conduct of research.

      • Coordinates the preparation of Institutional Review Board (IRB) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) protocol development and ensure compliance of research operations with protocols. Coordinates developing and recommending policies and procedures and/or design methods for clinical research activities.

      • Manages interaction with subject participants including eligibility screening, recruitment, enrollment, ensuring informed consent is properly secured and documented, counseling, and obtaining patient medical history. May obtain tissue and blood samples as necessary and collects information through interviews, questionnaires, test results, and charts.

      • Establishes and maintains database files and reports using computer applications such as Microsoft Excel/Access.

      • Perform data checks, audits, and data cleaning. Check validity and accuracy of data ensuring compliance with quality control requirements and study relevance.

      • Performs clinical research activities including advanced data analysis using statistical software such as SAS, SPSS, and R; data management (collection, entry, verification); data interpretation, and ensures compliance and clinical relevance of data. May develop data collection instruments such as survey questionnaires.

      • Maintains communication with participants and colleagues regarding protocol specific information and research orders. Provides assessments and ensures protocol compliance while participants are in a study.

      • Serves as a liaison to other departments such as IRB or CCT, outside organizations, government agencies, and product representatives to promote effective and efficient operation and use of resources.

      • Oversees and coordinates the day-to-day clinical research operations, study initiation, execution, and completion.

      • Assists in the design and provide expert recommendation regarding research studies. Oversees interaction with subject participants including eligibility screening, recruitment, enrollment, ensuring informed consent is properly secured and documented, counseling, and obtaining patient medical history.

      • May provide work coordination and feedback to others.

      • Performs day-to-day operational duties such as: monitoring the budget; budget negotiation and review, ensuring quality control and safety compliance; serving as liaison with IRB, submitting invoicing, develops policies, procedures, and/or methods for laboratory experimentation; and ordering supplies.

      • Searches relevant literature, develops conclusions on research findings, writes reports, prepare, and deliver presentations of relevant findings and conclusions, and recommends appropriate actions. May conduct library research and contributes to the preparation and writing of research findings for publication of journal articles and grant proposals.

      • Provides training to less experienced researchers; assisting in developing and submitting grants, papers, abstracts, manuscripts and presenting studies; developing protocol manuals and data collection instruments; participating in field visits, responding to requests and questions from individuals, institutions, government agencies, and funding agencies; and participating in the design of research studies.

      • Performs other duties as assigned.

    • Education: Bachelor's degree in a scientific field of study related to the research of the clinical setting.

    • Experience: Three (3) years of clinical research including two (2) years in the relevant research specialization.

    • Apply online: https://umb.taleo.net/careersection/umb_external_staff/jobdetail.ftl?job=230001EN&lang=en

  • Research Project Coordinator - University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

    • The University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition is currently recruiting for a Research Project Coordinator. The Research Project Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day operations of research studies in the department. The position coordinates data maintenance, grant expenditure adherence, project evaluation, meeting scheduling, and research subject interfacing. Serves as a point of contact for study participants, research personnel and support staff. Adheres to good clinical practices, study protocols, and applicable regulations. The Research Project Coordinator conducts complex work and contributes to measurable team objectives. Uses discretion to provide solutions to issues. Performs varied work that does not follow prescribed procedures or processes and is responsible for effective operations and use of resources rather than clinical outcomes.

    • Primary Duties:

      • Coordinate and communicate directly with the principle investigator, study participants, and sponsors to manage the operation and evaluation activities of the research studies. Responsible for ensuring optimum efficiency and compliance with appropriate policies, procedures, and specifications. Use evaluation techniques, originality, and ingenuity to resolve non routine issues. 

      • Recruit and screen volunteers to participate in research studies. Develop recruitment streams and advise participants of the study objective, requirements, risks, and benefits and obtains their consent and enrollment.

      • Coordinate the collection and management of study data by developing data collection instruments, establishing and maintaining databases, and performing data quality checks. Develop and implement new processes to improve effectiveness and efficiency of data collection and evaluation. Track, report, and audit study data and regulatory study documentation.

      • Develop and produce reports of study data for project staff and stakeholders. Analyze data and draws conclusions in order to make recommendations. Develop reports summarizing study deviations from protocol and communications with IRB. Contribute meaningful information to enhance publications or grant applications.

      • Monitor activities to ensure compliance with protocols and all relevant local, federal, and state regulatory and institutional policies. Assist in budget development, expenditure adherence, and maintenance of inventory on equipment and supplies.

      • Obtain, process, and transport specimens to the appropriate laboratory according to established aseptic technique. Performs venipunctures and finger sticks to obtain blood specimens

      • May supervise those who perform data entry and perform non-routine data analysis.

      • Perform other related duties as assigned.

    • Education: Bachelor's degree in nursing, emergency services, chemistry, biology, public health, psychology or another scientific discipline appropriate to position required.

    • Experience: Prior experience in clinical research or research or project coordination preferred. 

    • Apply: https://umb.taleo.net/careersection/umb_external_staff/jobsearch.ftl and search job number 2300015K

  • Postbaccalaureate Intramural Research Trainee - National Institutes of Health

    1. The NIH Postbac IRTA program (CRTA, Cancer Research Training Award, in the National Cancer Institute) provides recent college graduates who are planning to apply to graduate or professional school an opportunity to spend one or two years performing full-time research at the NIH. Postbac IRTAs/CRTAs work side-by-side with some of the leading scientists in the world, in an environment devoted exclusively to biomedical research. The NIH consists of the 240-bed Mark O. Hatfield Clinical Research Center and more than 1100 laboratories/research projects, located on the main campus in Bethesda, MD and in the surrounding area as well as in Baltimore and Frederick, MD; Research Triangle Park, NC; Hamilton, MT; Framingham, MA; Phoenix, AZ; and Detroit, MI.

    2. There are abundant clinical research opportunities, including some working directly with NIH Genetic Counselors.

    3. The Postbac IRTA/CRTA Program is for individuals who meet ONE of the following criteria:

      1. 1. college graduates who received their bachelor's degrees less than THREE years prior to the date they begin the program (regardless of whether they subsequently completed a master's degree), OR

      2. 2. individuals who are more than 3 years past the receipt of their bachelor's degree but received a master's degree less than SIX MONTHS before they begin the program OR

      3. 3. individuals who meet criterion (1) and/or (2) who have been accepted into graduate, other doctoral, or medical school programs and who have written permission from their school to delay entrance for up to one year to pursue a biomedical research project at the NIH.

    4. To be eligible, candidates must also be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. In addition, they should intend to apply to graduate or professional school during their tenure at the NIH (if they have not already been accepted).

    5. Individuals from racial and ethnic groups that have been underrepresented in health-related sciences; Students with disabilities; students who are Pell Grant-eligible; students who are enrolled in Tribal Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); students who identify as LGBTQ; and individuals disadvantaged by circumstances that have negatively impacted their educational opportunities, including recent natural disasters, are encouraged to apply.

    6. Apply online: https://www.training.nih.gov/programs/postbac_irta