Research Assistant II - Center for Asthma Research

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:

Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine

Job Summary:

The Research Assistant II position in the Center for Asthma Research will process diverse human-study biospecimens, including work with cultured human airway epithelial cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The ideal candidate will have prior experience working in a laboratory processing biospecimens and a strong understanding of standard laboratory processes. Responsibilities include biospecimen processing, tracking, running assays, database entry per protocol, organization and inventory management, and biospecimen quality assessment. The role also involves training, preparing materials, and presenting updates at lab staff meetings. The position is based in a three-person lab embedded within a larger multidisciplinary research team and requires the ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a team environment.

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under moderate supervision, process human biospecimens with documentation of chain of custody

• Conduct and evaluate experiments and assays

• Understand and follow biospecimen processing and experimental protocols (tissue culture, etc.)

• Record, compile, interpret, and communicate data/results

• Follow VUMC safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, 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

• 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 biospecimens and experiments

• Prepare preliminary research progress reports

• Summarize test results appropriately and prepare at laboratory meetings

• Will require rotation to cover one Saturday a month, requiring 1-3 hours of work depending upon number of biospecimens and airway epithelial cells to be processed

Why Join Us?
The Center for Asthma Research is home to an innovative and interdisciplinary team committed to making a difference in the lives of children and families. As part of our team, you will have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking studies, collaborate with leading experts across the country, and contribute to a mission-driven organization where your skills and leadership will be valued.

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

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well-being and professional growth.

Vanderbilt Health is committed to fostering an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and is committed to the principles of equal opportunity.  EOE/Vets/Disabled.