Temporary Technical- VTS Staff TA

Vanderbilt University • United States,

9d

About The Position

The Department of Physics & Astronomy at Vanderbilt University seeks a part-time, temporary Research Assistant to join the Karan Jani Lab. Under the mentorship of faculty and a postdoctoral researcher, the assistant will contribute to gravitational-wave data analysis, develop and maintain computational workflows, and help communicate scientific results. The role offers hands-on experience with data-intensive astrophysics research in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment.

The assistant will process and analyze astrophysical data, conduct quantitative and statistical analyses, support reproducible research practices, and communicate findings through figures, summaries, and research meetings. The role also includes reviewing scientific literature and troubleshooting computational pipelines and software tools.

Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a campus and arboretum spanning more than 330 acres. The university describes its mission as advancing knowledge and transforming lives and states that it is an equal-opportunity employer.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in physics, astronomy, astrophysics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, data science, or a related quantitative field.
• Experience with scientific computing and statistical data analysis.
• Familiarity with large scientific datasets and reproducible workflow practices.
• Ability to work independently and collaborate effectively with faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and team members.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Proficiency with version control systems such as Git and software development best practices.
• Attention to detail and ability to evaluate data for accuracy.
• Ability to manage time and meet project deadlines.

Nice To Haves

• Experience using Python for scientific computing and statistical data analysis.
• Knowledge of gravitational-wave data-analysis methods or computational astrophysics.

Responsibilities

• Process, analyze, and interpret gravitational-wave and related astrophysical data under faculty and postdoctoral guidance.
• Implement, execute, and maintain computational data-analysis workflows.
• Perform quantitative and statistical analyses and verify the accuracy and consistency of results.
• Generate figures, tables, and summaries to communicate findings.
• Review scientific literature and apply established methods to research tasks.
• Maintain organized code, data products, analysis records, and documentation to support reproducibility.
• Participate in research meetings and present updates on assigned activities.
• Troubleshoot and document computational pipelines and software tools.
• Assist with other research-related duties supporting the laboratory’s scientific objectives.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level