Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center:  Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.

Organization:

Hematology/Oncology Research

Job Summary:

Research Assistant I in Breast Cancer Lab

Looking for an individual for an entry level position as a research assistant in a genetics and molecular biology breast cancer lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. BA or BS in an area of biology, chemistry, or environmental sciences is preferred. Individual hired for this job will be responsible for processing and banking plasma samples for current breast cancer repository and ongoing clinical studies. In addition to this role, the individual will set up, conduct experiments, and continue research projects following protocols. This will be performed under direct supervision and mentorship of another lab member. The individual will also assist in other laboratory and research functions, general laboratory operation, inventory and ordering supplies. Research experience (or equivalent lab-based courses) are preferred but not required.

Department Summary:

The Division of Hematology and Oncology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center conducts research and treats all types of adult cancers including solid tumor cancers and hematological (blood) disorders, as benign hematologic disorders such as coagulation disorders and non-cancerous blood diseases.
With over 80 faculty members representing a broad range of professional expertise, our dedicated team of professionals is committed to hematologic and oncologic care through:

• Research to better understand and treat cancers and benign hematologic
diseases
• Translating VICC laboratory research into therapies to help people with
cancer
• State-of-the-art patient care and personalized cancer therapy
• Clinical trials, including Phase I drug development with subsequent Phase II
and Phase III testing
• Training future hematology and oncology doctors and researchers
• Cancer chemotherapy, pharmacology, and biological therapy with an
emphasis on solid tumors
• Treating bleeding and coagulation disorders, anemia and other disorders of
blood

.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under moderate supervision, conduct and evaluate experiments and assays

• Understand and follow experimental protocols (may include animal handling, tissue culture, etc.)

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

• Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, radioactivity, toxic material, and/or carcinogens)

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

• Prepare, operate and troubleshoot equipment in experimental procedures

• Read and follow all equipment manuals

• Maintain and repair equipment according to manufacturer and University guidelines

• Ensure Laboratory is prepared for experiments

• Maintain inventories

• Maintain sterile conditions as required

• Prepare reagents

• Demonstrate an understanding of acceptable procedures and techniques

• Recognize problems and suggest solutions

• Assist in modifications as directed

• Provide appropriate written documentation of experiments

• Prepare preliminary research progress reports

• Summarize test results appropriately

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS/STRENGTHS NEEDED & PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Environmental Conditions

• Occasional: Sitting: Remaining in seated position

• Occasional: Standing: Remaining on one’s feet without moving.

• Occasional: Walking: Moving about on foot.

• Occasional: Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another

• Occasional: Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward.

• Occasional: Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles

• Occasional: Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders.

• Occasional: Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands.

• Occasional: Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision.

• Occasional: Noise: May include exposure to occupational noise levels which equal or exceed an 8-hr time-weighted average of 85 decibels, requiring enrollment in VUMC’s Hearing Conservation Program which includes training, use of hearing protection, and periodic audiometry.

• Continuous: Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information.

• Occasional: Chemicals and Gasses: Medications, cleaning chemicals, oxygen, other medical gases used in work area.

• Occasional: Pathogens: Risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other contagious illnesses

Our Academic Enterprise is one of the nation’s longest serving and most prestigious academic medical centers. Through its historic bond with Vanderbilt University and integral role in the School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Health cultivates distinguished research and educational programs to advance a clinical enterprise that provides compassionate and personalized care and support for millions of patients and family members each year.

World-leading academic departments and comprehensive centers of excellence pursue scientific discoveries and transformational educational and clinical advances across the entire spectrum of health and disease.

Aligning with Vanderbilt Health’s Strategic Directions, the Office of Research provides shared research resources, administrative expertise and professional guidance to enable the trans-disciplinary environment and highly collaborative culture that advances discovery and training for all the research faculty, trainees, students and staff. 

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/ work teams.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas. - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service. - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department. Managing Resources Effectively :- Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.- Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action. - Adapts to Change: Embraces changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications :

Work Experience :

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

Less than 1 year

Education :

Bachelor’s

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.