Research Assistant, WCNDD

About the Work Unit :

Every major advance in medicine starts with fundamental discoveries that teach us how living organisms work in both health and disease. These discoveries are made in biomedical sciences laboratories that study life at all levels from the individual molecules that encode heredity to the complex associations of cells that form tissues and organs. Vanderbilt Basic Sciences is a tightly integrated research and education division within the School of Medicine comprising four academic departments, eight interdisciplinary centers, twenty-seven service core facilities, and the Office of Biomedical Research, Education, and Training.

Our team of over 1000 faculty, fellows, students, and staff is making new discoveries every day - discoveries that enrich our understanding of biological processes and provide the foundation for new insights into the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

General:

Under limited supervision, set up, conduct experiments, report data, and continue in vivo research projects following protocols including the appropriate recording of data and reporting of standard or variant results. Assist in other laboratory and research functions. Help with the training of new personnel.

Specific:

• Available to work with varying schedule with start time between 6:00am and 8:00am, including weekends.
• Conduct or assist with a multitude of in vivo DMPK assays.

• Record, compile, interpret, and communicate data/results.

• Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, biohazardous materials and fluids/tissues, and/or carcinogens).

• Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions.

• Handle small animals and prepare them for DMPK experiments.

• Administer small molecule compounds PO, IP or IV.
• Draw blood at specific time points and prepare plasma for shipping to DMPK lab.

• Collect samples of tissue, urine, or other organic substance as requested by DMPK lab.

• Conducts observations of physiological or behavioral findings on small animals.

• Periodically aliquot, label, and distribute liquid stocks of small molecule compounds.
• Serve as logistical coordinator for shipping and receiving compounds and samples.
• Maintain up to date, accurate, and standardized records of colony and experiments/assays.
• Assist with general laboratory operations, including ordering supplies and consumables.

• Perform other duties as assigned; assist DMPK lab members with miscellaneous tasks.

• Maintain inventory of consumables, clean glassware/lab space, prepare and aliquot stock solutions. Assist in the efficient operation of the lab.

• Help maintain the instruments.

• Help in training new personnel.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time and lift moderate weights. Tasks will also require fine motor skills and coordination (hand/eye coordination) and involve repetitive motions.

Supervisory Relationships :

This position does not have supervisory responsibility, the position reports administratively and functionally to the Principal Investigator.

Education and Certifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.

• A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or similar field from an accredited institution of higher education is required.

• Experience in handling small animals preferred.

Experience and Skills:

• At least two year of experience in a lab setting is preferred

• Prior experience with in-vivo experiments is preferred
• Exceptional laboratory technique (highly accurate and efficient pipetting)
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and quality control
• Familiarity with the basics of Microsoft Excel
• Strong in basic math and common scientific unit conversions
• Rapid and efficient communicator via email; works well in a team setting
• Comfortable with close, safe handling of mammalian biological fluids/tissues

• Ability to clearly communicate research results, ideas, and concerns