Research Assistant - ON SITE

Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center : Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health is committed to an environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your uniqueness is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt’s mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research. Organization: Hearing And Speech Job Summary Title: Research Assistant (RA) Location: Vanderbilt Wilson Hall, 111 21st Ave. S., Nashville, TN Work Hours: Flexible 8-hour shift between 7:00 AM-5:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with occasional overtime, including weekends and holidays. Are you passionate about research and excited to contribute to groundbreaking studies in hearing and hearing loss? Join our team as a Research Assistant and play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of auditory function in macaque monkeys! Position Overview As a Research Assistant, you will be an integral part of our dynamic and collaborative team, supporting a project that investigates normal hearing and hearing loss in non-human primates. Your responsibilities will span a variety of tasks designed to ensure the smooth operation of our laboratory and the success of our research initiatives. Responsibilities Actively participate in behavioral and physiological experiments. Train macaque monkeys for various behavioral tasks with patience and precision. Perform data collection, analysis, and ensure timely and accurate data entry. Maintain detailed and organized records of experiments and findings. Handle macaque monkeys professionally and responsibly, including providing environmental enrichment. Assist in maintaining laboratory operations by performing additional duties as needed. Stay adaptable and eager to learn advanced technical skills as required for the role. Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and contribute to the development of new SOPs when necessary. Collaborate effectively and courteously with other team members. Under supervision, run experiments, assays, and record results. Read and follow experimental protocols (may include animal handling, tissue culture, etc.). Compile and communicate results to supervisor. Follow university safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, radioactivity, toxic material, and/or carcinogenics). Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions. Prepare and operate equipment in experimental procedures (blood gas analyzer, centrifuge, pH meter, spectrophotometer, autoclave, scintillation counter, electrophoresis unit, analytical balance, etc.). Maintain and repair equipment according to manufacturer and university guidelines. Ensure laboratory is prepared for experiments. Maintain inventories. Maintain sterile conditions as required. Prepare reagents. Clean equipment. Qualifications Required: Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience). Required: Willingness to work with animals, specifically macaque monkeys. Required: Physical ability to lift up to 65 pounds. Preferred: Programming or engineering experience. Preferred: Familiarity with MATLAB. Preferred: Previous experience in electrophysiology, programming, or working with animals/non-human primates. Preferred: A genuine interest in research and enthusiasm for working closely with monkeys. Strong work ethic, excellent communication skills, and ability to multitask in a fast‑paced research environment. Benefits 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 wellness offerings to enhance your well‑being and professional growth. Equal Opportunity 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr Vanderbilt University Medical Center