Research Asst 2 - ON SITE

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Organization:
Pediatric Infectious Disease

Job Summary:
As a Research Assistant II, you will play a key role in advancing research within the Vanderbilt Infection Surveillance & Prevention Research (VISPR) Program. This program is dedicated to investigating the etiology, epidemiology, prevention, and pathobiology of infectious diseases. Our mission is to quantify the burden of acute respiratory and diarrheal illnesses in young children-both locally and globally-and to develop effective mitigation strategies, such as vaccines, with a particular focus on optimizing influenza vaccination approaches for specialized populations (e.g., immunocompromised individuals).

Working under moderate supervision, you will be responsible for setting up and conducting experiments, as well as advancing research projects in adherence to established protocols. This includes meticulous data recording and reporting of both standard and non-standard findings. In addition, you will assist with other laboratory and research tasks, collaborate with faculty, staff, and students within the lab, and foster communication with clinical and administrative team members within VISPR. Your contributions will be integral to the team's efforts in improving public health outcomes through innovative infectious disease research.

Requirements
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in a relevant field.
• Minimum of 2 years of hands-of laboratory experience.
• Exceptional communication and documentation abilities, with a demonstrated capacity to convey findings clearly and accurately.
• Proven ability to maintain precision and accuracy in all aspects of research and data recording.

You will work Monday-Friday, traditional daytime business hours at Vanderbilt Medical Center North located on 21st Ave. in Nashville, TN.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY :

The Vanderbilt Infection Surveillance & Prevention Research Program was formed in 2024 to conduct clinical and translational research determining the burden of diarrheal and respiratory illnesses in young children and specialized populations and to find ways to reduce their burden (e.g., through vaccines, drugs, etc.). Since 2002, Dr. Halasa has been involved in vaccine trials enrolling children of all ages, including young infants and specialized populations such as children with cancer. For more information, please visit

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Conducts Wet Lab Experiments

Preparation and Coordination of Samples in and out of lab

• Creating and reviewing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• Working with supervisor to maintain supplies and working equipment.

Processing samples from many different studies

• Working with supervisor to maintain supplies and working equipment.

• Assist in maintaining lab compliance with biological and chemical safety protocols
• Record data, perform data analysis and create graphs/reports

Collaboration

• Training and onboarding new members on lab processing techniques
• Effectively communicate experimental results to supervisor and/or laboratory group meetings

• Work effectively with others to accomplish goals and to find solutions to problems

Maintaining Lab Records

• Maintain inventories
• Freezer log mapping and coordination
• Organization of samples
• Sorting of samples
• Reconciliation of sample collection
• Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, radioactivity, toxic material, and/or carcinogens)

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Our Academic Enterprise is one of the nation's longest serving and most prestigious academic medical centers. Through its historic bond with Vanderbilt University and integral role in the School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Health cultivates distinguished research and educational programs to advance a clinical enterprise that provides compassionate and personalized care and support for millions of patients and family members each year.


World-leading academic departments and comprehensive centers of excellence pursue scientific discoveries and transformational educational and clinical advances across the entire spectrum of health and disease.


Aligning with Vanderbilt Health's Strategic Directions, the Office of Research provides shared research resources, administrative expertise and professional guidance to enable the trans-disciplinary environment and highly collaborative culture that advances discovery and training for all the research faculty, trainees, students and staff.


Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications :

Work Experience :
Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :
2 years

Education :
Bachelor's

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.