Research Assistant, Boutaud Lab

The Research Assistant is part of the Basic Sciences Pod 3 in the School of Medicine at Vanderbilt University and is a key individual contributor responsible for setting up, conducting experiments, reporting data, and continuing research projects following protocols including the appropriate recording of data and reporting of standard or variant results. Assists in other laboratory and research functions. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Assistant works with faculty, staff, and key internal/external stakeholders.

Every major advance in medicine starts with fundamental discoveries that teach us how living organisms work in both health and disease. These discoveries are made in biomedical sciences laboratories that study life at all levels from the individual molecules that encode heredity to the complex associations of cells that form tissues and organs. Vanderbilt Basic Sciences is a tightly integrated research and education division within the School of Medicine comprising four academic departments, eight interdisciplinary centers, twenty-seven service core facilities, and the Office of Biomedical Research, Education, and Training.

Our team of over 1000 faculty, fellows, students, and staff is making new discoveries every day - discoveries that enrich our understanding of biological processes and provide the foundation for new insights into the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.

Under limited supervision, set up, conduct experiments, report data, and continue in vivo research projects following protocols including the appropriate recording of data and reporting of standard or variant results. Assist in other laboratory and research functions. Help with the training of new personnel.

• Start working day no later than 6 AM.
• May have to come to work on week-ends.
• Conduct or assist with a multitude of in vivo DMPK assays.
• Record, compile, interpret, and communicate data/results.
• Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, biohazardous materials and fluids/tissues, and/or carcinogens).
• Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions.
  
  Handle small animals and prepare them for DMPK experiments.
  
  Administer small molecule compounds PO, IP or IV.
• Draw blood at specific time points and prepare plasma for shipping to DMPK lab.
• Collect samples of tissue, urine, or other organic substance as requested by DMPK lab.
• Conducts observations of physiological or behavioral findings on small animals.
• Periodically aliquot, label, and distribute liquid stocks of small molecule compounds.
• Serve as logistical coordinator for shipping and receiving of compounds and samples.
• Maintain up to date, accurate, and standardized records of experiments/assays.
• Assist with general laboratory operations, including ordering supplies and consumables.
• Perform other duties as assigned; assist DMPK lab members with miscellaneous tasks.
• Maintain inventory of consumables, clean glassware/lab space, prepare and aliquot stock solutions. Assist in the efficient operation of the lab.
• Help maintain the instruments.
• Help in the training of new personnel.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time and lifting moderate weights. Tasks will also require fine motor skills and coordination (hand/eye coordination) and involve repetitive motions.

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
• A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or similar field from an accredited institution of higher education is highly preferred.
• Experience in handling small animals preferred.

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; the position reports administratively and functionally to the Principal Investigator.

• One year of experience in a lab setting is preferred
• Ability to clearly communicate research results, ideas, and concerns
• Exceptional laboratory technique (highly accurate and efficient pipetting)
• Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and quality control
• Strong in basic math…