Research Assistant - Part Time

Lab Assistant

The Lab Assistant role is part of the Biomedical Engineering work unit within the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering. This part-time position, with potential to increase to full-time later, supports the SMILE Lab, directed by Dr. Ruogu Fang, by managing the operational, regulatory, and administrative functions of the lab's research portfolio. The candidate will work closely with the principal investigator and lab members to coordinate meetings, prepare and maintain IRB applications, support research participant recruitment, and manage grant, fiscal, and data documentation.

The position requires strong organizational and communication skills, close attention to detail, and a proactive approach to managing multiple concurrent projects and deadlines.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt is unique among biomedical engineering programs in its immediate proximity to the world class Vanderbilt Medical Center, located on our compact campus. Our School of Medicine is among the top ten in funding from the National Institutes of Health and includes a National Cancer Institute-recognized Comprehensive Cancer Center, a major children's hospital and a Level I trauma center.

This proximity and the strong relationships among faculty across multiple schools stimulate high impact research and provide unique educational and research opportunities for students.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:

• Organizes and coordinates lab and center meetings, including scheduling, preparing agendas, taking minutes, and following up on action items
• Provides day-to-day project management support across multiple concurrent research studies, tracking timelines, milestones, and deliverables
• Prepares, submits, and maintains IRB applications, amendments, and continuing reviews to ensure ongoing regulatory compliance
• Coordinates research participant recruitment, screening, and scheduling in accordance with approved study protocols
• Prepares and organizes grant documents, including progress reports, subaward materials, and submission packages
• Manages fiscal aspects of lab accounts, including monitoring expenditures, reconciling accounts, and preparing financial summaries
• Assists with budgeting and budget projections for current and proposed research projects
• Manages research data, including organization, quality control, and secure storage in accordance with data management plans
• Coordinates communication with collaborators, sponsors, and external partners on behalf of the lab
• Performs other duties as assigned to support the operational and research goals of the lab

Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Professor.

Education and Certifications A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary. Degrees in Public Health, Health Administration, Business Administration, Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering or related fields are preferred.

Experience and Skills:

A professional attitude, high level of motivation, initiative and good work ethic is required. 1-2 years minimum experience in research coordination, clinical research, project management, or a related administrative role. Experience with IRB submissions, amendments, and regulatory compliance is strongly preferred. An ability to manage budgets, track expenditures, and prepare financial and fiscal documentation is required. Strong organizational skills and an ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and deadlines are required.

Higher education experience is strongly preferred. An ability to work independently with a high level of self-motivation is preferred. An ability to learn new skills quickly is preferred. Adaptability to ever changing projects and people is preferred. Strong written and verbal communication skills, experience with research participant recruitment, and proficiency with data management tools and standard office software (Microsoft Office, Excel) are strongly preferred.

• Contract Compliance - VU
• Data Capture - VU
• Experimentation - VU
• Quality Control -…