Principal Staff Scientist - Biological Sciences (Karasmanis)

Position Summary:

The Principal Staff Scientist is part of the Karasmanis Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt University and is a senior individual contributor responsible for advancing the laboratory’s research programs and supporting efficient laboratory operations. This position plays a central role in experimental design, assay development, data generation, and interpretation, while serving as a technical resource for lab members.

Reporting directly to the Principal Investigator (PI), the Principal Staff Scientist works closely and regularly with the PI, graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, undergraduate trainees, and shared resource cores to support and advance the lab’s scientific objectives.

The Principal Staff Scientist will independently design, execute, and optimize advanced molecular, cellular, biochemical, and biophysical experiments, including cryo-ET; develop and implement new experimental assays and workflows; analyze and interpret complex datasets; and contribute to troubleshooting and refinement of ongoing research projects. The role also includes training and mentoring lab members on specialized techniques, maintaining rigorous experimental documentation, and contributing to a collaborative and highly functional research environment.

The Karasmanis Lab studies the mechanisms of intra- and inter-cellular transport using structural, biophysical, cell biological, and genetic approaches. Research in the lab focuses on understanding how cellular cargo arrives at the right place and time and dissecting how motor-cargo complexes form and correctly navigate the cellular cytoskeleton landscape. The lab values scientific rigor, creativity, collaboration, mutual support, and fosters an environment where trainees and staff work closely together to develop new ideas, technologies, and experimental strategies.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience from both academic and biotechnology research environments and will play a central role in advancing the lab’s research programs through independent execution of complex experiments, development of new methodologies, and cross-functional collaboration.

The position is full time. Term length and renewal will be contingent upon funding and performance.

About the Work Unit:

The Department of Biological Sciences has an excellent staff to facilitate issue resolution involving personnel, financial management, supply and equipment orders proposal submission, and infrastructure. The faculty in the department carry out diverse research projects and often collaborate with other members within the department and in nearby departments. This department covers a broad spectrum of biology, from molecules and cells to tissues and organisms to populations and ecosystems. Award-winning faculty and graduate students teach and carry out research in Biochemistry, Structural Biology and Biophysics, Cell Biology, Genetics, Molecular Biology, Computational Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology, Developmental Biology, and Neurobiology.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Design, execute, and optimize advanced molecular, cellular, biochemical, and biophysical experiments to advance discovery and the lab’s research objectives.
• Develop, adapt, and miniaturize novel experimental assays and workflows to address specific scientific questions related to cellular transport mechanisms.
• Generate high-quality, reproducible data and perform quantitative data analysis and interpretation.
• Maintain thorough and accurate experimental records using electronic or written laboratory notebooks.
• Troubleshoot complex experimental challenges and propose effective technical and conceptual solutions.
• Contribute to preparation of figures, technical summaries, and data for manuscripts, presentations, and grant applications.
• Serve as a technical resource for laboratory members by providing guidance on protocols, experimental design, and best practices.
• Train and collaborate with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and undergraduate researchers on specialized techniques and instrumentation.
• Assist with laboratory operations including equipment oversight, inventory management, purchasing, and coordination with shared core facilities.
• Support compliance with laboratory safety procedures, institutional policies, and best research practices.
• Collaborate effectively with internal and external research partners as needed to advance lab proje