Research Assistant 1 - Goldenring - ON SITE

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:

Section Surgical Research

Job Summary:

Working in the VUMC Epithelial Biology Center (EBC), you will serve in a pivotal Research Assistant role supporting designated research projects under direct supervision. Responsibilities include collecting, evaluating, and clearly communicating experimental data and results; assisting with general laboratory operations and inventory management; and participating in cell and tissue research using established molecular techniques.

This is an on-site position based in the EBC laboratory at 2215 Garland Ave., Nashville, TN, with a Monday–Friday schedule during traditional daytime business hours.

A Bachelor's degree in a Bioscience field (or equivalent experience) is required for this role. Although no experience is required, 1-2 years of experience in cell and tissue research is helpful.

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DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Epithelial Biology Center brings together investigators from multiple disciplines to address complex issues related to the physiology and pathophysiology of epithelial cells. Major areas of investigation include establishment and maintenance of epithelial cell polarity, regulation of vesicle trafficking and cytoskeletal organization, epithelial defense against infectious agents and the identification and characterization of adult epithelial stem cell populations. For additional information, please visit https://www.vumc.org/ebc/overview.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
• Under supervision, run experiments, assays, and record results
• Read and follow experimental protocols (May include animal handling, tissue culture, etc.)
• Compile and communicate results to supervisor
• Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, radioactivity, toxic material, and/or carcinogenics)
• Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions
• Prepare and operate equipment in experimental procedures
• May include blood gas analyzer, centrifuge, pH meter, spectrophotometer, autoclave, scintillation counter, electrophoresis unit, analytical balance, etc.
• 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
• Clean equipment.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

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