What are the responsibilities and job description for the Research Specialist, Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery position at Vanderbilt University?
Primary responsibilities will include general laboratory organization and support, laboratory rodent husbandry, colony maintenance and organization. Assists in other laboratory and research functions. Reporting to the Principal Investigator, the Research Specialist works with faculty, staff, and key internal/external stakeholders.
Under limited supervision, set up, conduct experiments, report data, and continue in vivo research projects following protocols including the appropriate recording of data and reporting of standard or variant results. Assist in other laboratory and research functions. Help with the training of new personnel.
Specific:
- Available to work with varying schedule with start time between 6:00am and 8:00am, including weekends.
Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, biohazardous materials and fluids/tissues, and/or carcinogens).
- Becomes familiar with IACUC protocols and compliance. Assists with laboratory animal care as needed
- Conduct or assist with a multitude of in vivo DMPK assays.
Record, compile, interpret, and communicate data/results.
- Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions. Handle small animals and prepare them for DMPK experiments. Administer small molecule compounds PO, IP or IV.
- Draw blood at specific time points and prepare plasma for shipping to DMPK lab.
Collect samples of tissue, urine, or other organic substance as requested by DMPK lab.
Conducts observations of physiological or behavioral findings on small animals.
- Periodically aliquot, label, and distribute liquid stocks of small molecule compounds.
- Serve as logistical coordinator for shipping and receiving of compounds and samples.
- Maintain up to date, accurate, and standardized records of colony and experiments/assays.
- Assist with general laboratory operations, including ordering supplies and consumables.
Perform other duties as assigned; assist DMPK lab members with miscellaneous tasks.
Maintain inventory of consumables, clean glassware/lab space, prepare and aliquot stock solutions. Assist in the efficient operation of the lab.
Help maintain the instruments.
- Help in the training of new personnel.
- Ability to stand for long periods of time and lifting moderate weights. Tasks will also require fine motor skills and coordination (hand/eye coordination) and involve repetitive motions.
Qualifications
- A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
- A Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, or similar field from an accredited institution of higher education is required.
- Experience in handling small animals preferred.