Research Asst 3 - ON SITE

Vanderbilt University Medical Center•Nashville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

As a Research Assistant 3, you will play a key role in advancing the research efforts of the Vanderbilt Infection Surveillance & Prevention Research (VISPR) Program. This program is dedicated to investigating the causes, epidemiology, risk factors, prevention, and treatment of viral acute respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. These efforts focus on children and other special populations, including immunocompromised individuals. Our mission is to better understand the burden of acute respiratory and diarrheal illnesses in young children and develop strategies to mitigate these diseases in both pediatric and adult populations through innovative approaches to vaccines, therapies, and diagnostics. As a team member, you will manage, process, document, and potentially test human specimens for infection and immune responses to infection or vaccination. You’ll follow regimented protocols to ensure accurate data recording and reporting of both standard and variant results. Working under minimal supervision, you will have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful research while interacting with faculty, staff, trainees, and VISPR’s clinical, data, and administrative teams. Additionally, you may assist with other laboratory and research activities, helping to drive our mission forward.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
A minimum of 4 years of hands-on laboratory experience, showcasing your proficiency in laboratory techniques and protocols.
The ability to collaborate seamlessly within a team environment while demonstrating strong leadership capabilities to guide and support others effectively.
Exceptional data management skills, with the ability to organize, analyze, and interpret information accurately and efficiently.
Meticulous attention to detail, ensuring precision and consistency in all aspects of your work.

Responsibilities

Specimen management
Specimen receipt, sorting, inspection, and verification.
Reconciliation of specimen collection and receipt with information populated in the laboratory and Program clinical databases (and extramural databases where applicable).
Specimen shipment, including retrieval and organization of specimens, generation of manifests, packaging, and coordination with destination labs.
Curation of the specimen biorepository, including continuous management and concerted staging of freezer contents for planned specimen use.
Specimen organization and sorting.
Cryobank mapping and verification.
Processing and testing of specimens from numerous and diverse studies
Specimen types: respiratory, blood, stool, oral, and occasionally other sources.
Monitor and maintain supply inventory.
Ensure properly functioning equipment.
Stringently follow and maintain lab compliance with institutional, local, and federal biological and chemical safety protocols, policies, and regulations.
Test methodologies might include nucleic-acid amplification assays, specific antibody detection, and rapid diagnostic devices; however, testing responsibilities will be secondary to specimen processing and management.
Lab data, records, and written procedures
Record data, perform data analysis, and create graphs/reports.
Create and review standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Maintain current, accurate, and fully annotated information in specimen biorepository electronic inventory systems.
Maintain electronic supply inventories.
Communication, instruction, and collaboration
Effectively communicate study results, progress, status, challenges, and action plans to supervisor, laboratory group during regular meetings, and VISPR Program collaborators.
Onboarding and training of new members in lab-processing techniques and related functions.
Work synergistically with other VISPR team members (laboratory, clinical, data, and administration) in a proactive, solution-oriented manner to accomplish goals and resolve problems.