Research Assistant - ON SITE

Organization

Biomedical Informatics

The Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at Vanderbilt Health seeks a Research Assistant 1 to join a dynamic research group focused on clinical decision support (CDS), patient safety, and the application of machine learning and data science to improve inpatient and outpatient clinical care. The role supports multiple active research projects led by a physician‑informatician, including prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), prediction and prevention of inpatient hypoglycemia, quality improvement initiatives, and clinical tool development.

The Research Assistant will work across the full project lifecycle— from data collection and chart review through data analysis, tool development, stakeholder coordination, and dissemination support.

• Developing and validating machine learning models to predict hypoglycemia in hospitalized patients prescribed insulin
• Building and evaluating clinical decision support tools integrated into Epic, Vanderbilt Health's electronic health record (EHR)
• Conducting a randomized trial of CDS interventions to improve lipid‑lowering therapy in primary care
• Exploring applications of large language models to clinical care
• Quality improvement projects, such as assessing FRAX utilization for osteoporosis screening and developing prediction models for urinary tract infections in patients on SGLT2 inhibitors

• Gain hands‑on experience across multiple clinical research projects in a world‑class academic medical center
• Work alongside physicians, data scientists, and informaticians in the largest biomedical informatics department in the world
• Develop a deep understanding of clinical research methods, EHR data, and healthcare quality improvement
• Receive mentorship and professional development support in a collaborative, mission‑driven environment
• Access to weekly academic seminars, providing ongoing exposure to cutting‑edge research in clinical informatics, AI, and medicine
• Build a strong foundation for future careers in medicine, research, informatics, or data science

• Bachelor's degree
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Self‑motivated, industrious, and able to work independently with minimal supervision
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to HIPAA standards when working with patient data (training will be provided)
• Ability to work onsite at Nashville office
• Familiarity with basic programming or data analysis (e.g., Python, R, SQL) is preferred; advanced coding skills are not required, but are a plus

• Perform structured medical record reviews to verify data accuracy and support the development and validation of clinical prediction models
• Identify and document data discrepancies or anomalies, supporting overall research quality
• Perform analyses of clinical data

• Coordinate user‑centered design sessions with multidisciplinary stakeholders, including scheduling, preparation of materials, and follow‑up
• Assist with distribution and collection of user surveys evaluating new clinical tools
• Support coordination of research activities across collaborating departments and institutions
• Track project timelines, tasks, and deliverables to keep multiple concurrent projects on schedule

• Assist with literature reviews, manuscript preparation, and presentation materials
• Support IRB submissions and regulatory documentation as needed
• Assist with quality improvement analyses and data summaries

Location:

2525 West End Ave., Nashville, TN. Onsite. Monday–Friday, traditional daytime business hours.

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.