Description
Research Assistant II (VUMC Department of Surgery)
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. It is a place 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.
Click Here To View The VUMC Promise of Discovery
About the Department: The Department of Surgery at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine was founded in 1925 and is the product of a long tradition of surgical innovation. As an academic clinical department, our mission is to provide the finest quality care to patients, educate the next generation of surgeons, and produce solutions to surgical problems that change practice.
We are comprised of 129 full-time clinical and 33 research faculty, 95 residents and fellows, and more than 40 staff. The department provides services to distinct but geographically close hospitals including the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center/Tennessee Valley Healthcare System, Saint Thomas Hospital, and Williamson Medical Center.
In addition, the Department supports meaningful collaborations with some of the worlds foremost outcomes, global health, and health services researchers. In addition, relationships with our School of Engineering through the Vanderbilt Institute for Surgical Engineering (VISE) support joint efforts to address problems relevant to surgery.
JOB SUMMARY: Under moderate supervision, set up, conduct experiments, and continue research projects following protocols including the appropriate recording of data and reporting of standard or variant results. Assist in other laboratory and research functions.
Your role: - 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
Benefits:
In addition to offering a lively community that encourages learning and celebrates diversity, Vanderbilt University Medical Center provides its faculty and staff members with a benefits package that is comprehensive and flexible. Components for benefits-eligible employees include:
- PTO
- Health Plan
- Parental Leave
- Life Insurance
- Retirement
- Short-Term Disability
- Long-term Disability
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
- Dental Insurance
- Group Discounts
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Vision
**Minimum Qualifications for Consideration**
BaBachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience) and 2 years experience
Preferred Skills and Experiences:
1. Experience is preferred in three of the following categories: molecular techniques (western blots, immunoprecipitation, RT-PCR, cloning); tissue culture (transfection, isolation and/or maintenance of primary endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts); cell-based assays using fluorescence and luminescence (apoptosis, proliferation, calcium flux); and/or microscopy (immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry; light, fluorescence & confocal microscopy)
2. Eligibility to work with animal and human subjects are necessary.
3. Preferred candidate will have experience in muscle bath assessment of vascular reactivity.
