Research Assistant 1
About the role
Discover Vanderbilt Health: With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.
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.
Job Summary: A Research Assistant 1 position is available in the Department of Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) to support the laboratory of Dr. Robb Flynn. Under direct supervision, this individual will support a broad portfolio of translational and clinical research spanning metabolic disease, obesity, and diabetes. The role is intentionally structured as an entry-level position on a defined path toward becoming a Clinical Study Coordinator: the successful candidate will contribute to day-to-day laboratory operations and clinical sample handling while progressively taking on clinical study organization and implementation responsibilities. Training and mentorship will be provided to develop the regulatory, coordination, and specimen-management skills required to advance within the clinical research career ladder.
Responsibilities
- Laboratory & Specimen Support: Under supervision, conduct and record experiments and assays in support of ongoing lab activities; read, understand, and follow experimental protocols (may include tissue culture and specimen handling); perform ordering and purchasing of laboratory reagents, consumables, and supplies; maintain inventories; prepare reagents and perform calculations involving molarity, percent solutions, and serial dilutions; perform clinical sample preparation and processing (blood, serum, urine), including aliquoting, labeling, and storage; perform tissue sample preparation and processing, including handling of muscle biopsy and other tissue specimens for downstream analyses; retrieve, transport, and process clinical and tissue specimens from the operating rooms and clinical areas, maintaining chain-of-custody and biorepository logs; prepare, operate, troubleshoot, and maintain laboratory equipment according to manufacturer and University guidelines; ensure the lab is prepared for experiments; follow all University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, toxic materials, and/or carcinogens); training in bloodborne pathogens and operating-room access procedures will be provided; compile, interpret, and communicate data and results; provide written