Technical Assistant

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Vanderbilt University seeks a Technical Assistant to support a research project in the neuroimaging and optical engineering space. The person in this role will support activities in electronics, human factors/softgoods and humans subjects validation and repeatability testing. Successful candidates are self-motivated and demonstrate a history of careful, structured work, excellent documentation, and the ability to work under guidance with some independence while coordinating closely with lab members, the PI, collaborators, and other resources on campus. In addition to technical responsibilities, some administrative responsibilities will be expected as well. Vanderbilt University is a globally recognized research institution committed to advancing knowledge and improving lives through discovery, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The role is based within Vanderbilt’s Bowden Biomedical Optics Lab, run by Professor Audrey Bowden in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering (or closely related field) is required.
Entry-level (0–2 years) research or hands-on prototyping/testing experience preferred (capstone, lab, internship) is required.
Experience with careful documentation (lab notebook/ELN), structured testing, and data organization is necessary.
Strong communication and organizational skills; exceptional attention to detail.
Ability to work precisely and structurally, independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Comfort learning new equipment/workflows quickly; troubleshooting mindset.

Nice To Haves

Experience with one or more of the following preferred: benchtop electronics testing, sensor systems, MATLAB/Python/Excel for plots and basic statistics, CAD or prototype assembly, human-subject study support workflows (role-appropriate training provided/required).

Responsibilities

Initiate tasks based on project goals and meeting action items.
Track to-dos; maintain prototype/version logs (electronics and enclosure revisions).
Draft brief progress updates, meeting summaries, and internal memos.
Assist with electronics prototype development; maintain configuration and test logs.
Perform relevant testing to validate electronics performance and identify quality issues.
Support structured in-lab testing for signal quality, consistency, and placement repeatability (including organized data capture and metadata tracking).
Maintain orderly workspaces, instruments, and documentation; follow lab safety and required trainings.
Recognize problems and suggest solutions; assist in modifications and improvements to protocols/test setups.
Coordinate scheduling for bench testing and (as assigned) validation sessions; manage supplies and basic procurement needs consistent with University policies and grant guidelines.
Organize de-identified data storage, file naming, and backups to support accurate reporting and reproducibility.
Support preparation of figures/tables for internal reports and presentations; perform additional related tasks as assigned.