Research Assistant 3 (Powers Lab)

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Organization:

DE/RH Admin Core

Job Summary:

Perform under minimal supervision a wide variety of complex tasks requiring practical understanding of scientific techniques and advanced knowledge of scientific theory.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

https://www.powersbrissovaresearch.org/

The Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism has a rich tradition of clinical, investigative and training excellence. With over 70 faculty and staff members, the division participates in a wide range of clinical programs and clinical and basic science research. Training the next generation of physicians and scientists is one of our main missions and involves programs in Endocrinology and Obesity Medicine, as well as funded T32 and T35 training programs.


RESEARCH SUMMARY

About the Powers & Brissova Research Group
Pancreatic islets are highly specialized mini organs that regulate blood glucose by secreting insulin, glucagon, and other hormones in response to physiologic stimuli such as glucose. A deficiency or a dysfunction of the insulin-producing β cells of the islet is critical to the development of all forms of diabetes.

The Powers & Brissova group is working to understand and reverse β cell and islet abnormalities and dysfunction in diabetes. In our projects, we are studying the pathogenesis of human diabetes by conducting, translating, and integrating studies about the human pancreas and islet biology.

Our research team of scientists, postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, medical students, undergraduate students, and research assistants has interdisciplinary collaborations with cell biologists, developmental biologists, biomedical engineers, geneticists, and bioinformaticians at Vanderbilt and around the world (Philadelphia, Palo Alto, New York, Alberta, Gainesville, Worcester, Austin, Denver, Chicago, Melbourne, Miami, Dresden, and Bar Harbor). We are part of the NIH-funded Human Islet Research Network (HIRN), the Human Pancreas Analysis Program (HPAP), the Human BioMolecular Atlas Program (HuBMAP), and the Multicenter Assessment of the Pancreas in Type 1 Diabetes (MAP-T1D).

The Powers & Brissova Research Group is part of the Diabetes Center, the Department of Medicine, and the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics at Vanderbilt. Our research is supported by the NIH/NIDDK, the Veterans Affairs (VA) Research program, and The Helmsley Charitable Trust.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Under minimal supervision, plan, conduct and evaluate experiments and assays of varying complexity.
• Plan and coordinate experiments in conjunction with Principal Investigator (PI).
• 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.
• Recommend equipment and supplies needed for research projects.
• 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.
• Assist PI in modifying procedures and techniques.
• Recognize problems and suggest solutions, assist in modifications.
• Recommend improvements to established techniques and/or protocols.
• Maintain personal knowledge of scientific trends through literature reviews, attendance at meetings, conferences and seminars.
• Provide appropriate written/oral documentation of experimen