Research Technician, Biochemistry; Meers Lab

Overview

The Meers Lab, located in the Department of Biochemistry at Vanderbilt University, is seeking a highly motivated research technician to gain expertise in molecular biology and biochemistry. The lab focuses on discovering novel enzymes that can rearrange DNA, with emphasis on transposable elements. Our goal is to uncover mechanisms by which transposase genes mobilize genetic information and to harness these processes for biotechnological applications.

We also investigate how life repurposes these enzymes for host functions, such as CRISPR (Meers et al., Nature, 2023) and snoRNA-guided RNA modification (Vayesse et al., Nature Microbiology, 2025). For examples illustrating our research scope, please see Žedaveinytė et al., Science, 2024;
Wiegand et al., Nature, 2024.

The Meers lab is a newly established facility seeking a research technician who will primarily conduct research, with time dedicated to maintaining the labs infrastructure. The technician will work closely with Dr. Meers, receiving direct mentorship in planning, conducting, and presenting research, and will collaborate with other technicians, graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers. As a brand-new lab, we aim to build a collaborative and supportive atmosphere where people enjoy the science and feel part of the team.

This is an excellent opportunity for recent college graduates seeking research experience before applying to graduate or medical school.