Administrative Assistant - Coon Group
The Morgridge Institute for Research
Summary
We are looking for an organized, upbeat person to keep a large, internationally recognized research group running smoothly. You will be the go-to person for scheduling, travel, events, purchasing and paperwork, working closely with the Principal Investigator (PI), lab members and Morgridge and UW–Madison staff. This is a great fit for a recent college graduate: we will train you on university systems and on how research is funded and run, and the job builds skills for a career in research administration, science operations, or graduate and professional school.
Job description
The Opportunity
We are looking for an organized, upbeat person to keep a large, internationally recognized research group running smoothly. You will be the go-to person for scheduling, travel, events, purchasing and paperwork, working closely with the Principal Investigator (PI), lab members and Morgridge and UW–Madison staff. This is a great fit for a recent college graduate: we will train you on university systems and on how research is funded and run, and the job builds skills for a career in research administration, science operations, or graduate and professional school.
Primary Responsibilities
- Manage the PI's calendar, help keep email organized, schedule meetings and respond to routine requests.
- Book travel and conference registrations, and prepare expense reports and reimbursements.
- Help with grant applications and reports by gathering documents from the team and collaborators and keeping track of deadlines, working with our grants staff.
- Help run our research center's meetings and events, such as an annual advisory board meeting and training workshops.
- Plan visits for seminar speakers, job candidates and other guests, including schedules, rooms and meals.
- Keep track of requests for letters and award nominations, and keep the PI's CV and publication lists up to date.
- Order supplies and equipment, follow up on orders and repairs, and ship materials to collaborators.
- Help new lab members get started (workspace, building access, accounts, trainings) and keep basic lab records, such as safety protocols and freezer space, up to date.
- Update the group's websites.
- Other responsibilities as assigned.
Qualifications
Required: a bachelor's degree, or an associate degree with relevant work experience. Experience from internships, student jobs, research labs or volunteer roles counts. You are highly organized and detail-oriented, write clearly and professionally, are comfortable with everyday software (Word, Excel, Outlook, Google Workspace) and eager to learn new tools, including AI assistants, and can handle confidential information with good judgment.
Nice to have, but not required: experience in a university, laboratory or office setting, or familiarity with research and grants. We will provide training.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree, or an associate degree with relevant work experience
- Highly organized and detail-oriented
- Write clearly and professionally
- Comfortable with everyday software (Word, Excel, Outlook, Google Workspace)
- Eager to learn new tools, including AI assistants
- Handle confidential information with good judgment
Company overview
The Morgridge Institute for Research is a private, nonprofit biomedical research institute located in Madison, Wisconsin, established in 2006 through a $50 million gift from Tashia and John Morgridge. Affiliated with the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the institute operates as part of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, a public-private partnership dedicated to interdisciplinary biomedical research. The institute focuses on improving human health through curiosity-driven research across several key areas including regenerative biology, virology, metabolism, biomedical imaging, research computing, and bioethics. With approximately 212 employees, the Morgridge Institute conducts fundamental research that bridges basic science with translational applications, emphasizing collaborative approaches that integrate bench research with computational science. The institute is housed in the 300,000-square-foot Discovery Building, which achieved LEED gold certification for sustainable design. Beyond research, the institute engages in extensive community outreach through programs like the Wisconsin Science Festival, Summer Science Camp for rural high school students, and various educational initiatives aimed at broadening STEM participation. Funded by multiple sources including the National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, and private foundations, the Morgridge Institute represents a unique model of academic-industry collaboration in biomedical research.