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 diverse 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 recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your diversity of culture, thinking, learning, and leading 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:
Pediatric Neurology
Job Summary:
The Neul lab is seeking a motivated research assistant to perform a variety of research tasks, ranging from mouse colony maintenance, animal behavior and encephalography (EEG), molecular biology, and cell culture work. The Neul lab research is translational in focus and uses disease models of neurodevelopmental disorders, with a specific focus on Rett syndrome. The overall goal of the lab is to discover pathogenic mechanisms, identify biomarkers of disease progression and reversal, and develop novel therapies for these disorders.
A successful candidate will be able to provide, under direct supervision, support for specified research projects; collect, assess, and communicate data/results. Assist in general laboratory operation and inventory.
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Important technical skills:
Histology and microscopy
PCR and general molecular biology techniques
Cell culture techniques
Animal surgery, dissection, and tissue collection
Mouse colony maintenance
Mouse handling
Mouse behavior and physiological assessments (breathing, heart rate, etc)
Mouse neurophysiology (EEG) including evoke potentials
Job Responsibilities:
1. Under moderate supervision, conduct and evaluate experiments and assays –
1a. Understand and follow experimental protocols (may include animal handling, tissue culture, cell culture, western blotting, QRT-PCR and plate reader assays, mouse husbandry, etc.)
1b. Record, compile, interpret, and communicate data/results
1c. Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, radioactivity, toxic material, and/or carcinogens)
1d. Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions
Oversee and conduct ongoing longitudinal mouse experiments
2. Prepare, operate and troubleshoot equipment in experimental procedures
2a. Read and follow all equipment manuals
2b. Maintain and repair equipment according to manufacturer and University guidelines
3. Ensure laboratory is prepared for experiments
3a. Manage the Neul lab mouse colony, keep close track of total cage numbers. Make sure correct breeding are occurring for ongoing experiments
3b. Order and receive supplies
3c. Maintain lab in a safe manner, following all regulatory requirements
4. Assist PI in modifying protocols/Demonstrate an understanding of acceptable procedures and techniques
4a. Recognize problems and suggest solutions
4b. Assist in modifications as directed
5. Provide appropriate written documentation of experiments
5a. Prepare preliminary research progress reports
5b. Summarize test results appropriately
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: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.
Core Capabilities :
Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one’s own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees’ effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.
Position Qualifications:
Responsibilities:
Certifications :
Work Experience :
Relevant Work Experience
Experience Level :
2 years
Education :
Bachelor’s
Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled
