Research Assistant III
Hematology Oncology

JOB SUMMARY:

Research Assistant III with experience in animal care and acquired lab skills is needed to study cellular and molecular mechanisms of inflammation.

Successful candidate will be responsible for working with mice, this includes breeding, treatment via IP and SC injections or surgically inserted osmotic pumps, frequent blood collections and processing, harvesting organs and isolation of organ-specific primary cells.

Successful candidate will be also responsible for performing basic histopathology of vital organs (H&E, PAS and Oil Red O staining), determination of gene expression by RT qPCR, systemic and local cytokine expression by cytometric bead arrays (CBA), as well as immuno-assays including: Co-Immunoprecipitation (CoIP), determination of cytosolic and nuclear protein levels by Western Blot (WB), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence assay.

The optimal candidate should have minimum 10 years hands-on experience of working with murine models of autoimmune, microbial or metabolic inflammation. Candidate must possess good interpersonal communication skills, a strong work ethic, and ability to work independently. Candidate should be able to keep up-to date records, processing and analyzing data using available software (e.g. GraphPad Prism, PowerPoint), and prepare figures and tables for publication. Candidate is expected to maintain laboratory equipment: centrifuges, pH meters, spectrophotometer, autoclave, electrophoresis units, analytical balance, cell culture hoods, and incubators.

Department Summary:

The Division of Hematology and Oncology conducts research and treats all types of adult cancers including solid tumor cancers and hematological (blood) disorders, as well as coagulation disorders and non-cancerous blood diseases. With over 80 faculty members representing a broad range of professional training and expertise, our dedicated team of professionals is committed to cancer care.

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Because we are committed to providing the best in patient care, education and research, we are proud of our recent accomplishments:

* US News & World Report: #1 Adult Hospital in Tennessee and metropolitan Nashville, named to the Best Hospitals Honor Roll of the top 20 adult hospitals, 10 nationally ranked adult specialty programs, with 3 specialties rated in the top 10 nationally, Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt named as one of the Best Children's Hospital in the nation, with 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties nationally ranked.

* Healthcare's Most Wired: Among the nation's 100 "most-wired" hospitals and health systems for its efforts in innovative medical technology.

* Becker's Hospital Review: named as one of the "100 Great Hospitals in America", in the roster of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Programs and to its list of the 100 Hospitals with Great Heart Programs.

* The Leapfrog Group: One of only 10 children's hospitals in the to be named at Leapfrog Top Hospital.

* American Association for the Advancement of Science: The School of Medicine has 112 elected fellows

* Magnet Recognition Program: Received our third consecutive Magnet designations.

* National Academy of Medicine: 22 members, elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding achievement

* Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index: 6th year in a row that Vanderbilt University Medical Center was a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Understand and follow experimental protocols (including animal handling and tissue culture), record, compile, and report data, analyze and interpret results.
• Under moderate supervision, plan and prepare experimental protocols, perform and evaluate experiments.
• Under no supervision, maintenance mice colonies including breeding of transgenic mice.
• Under minimal supervision, work with mouse models to evaluate new therapeutics.
• Under minimal supervision, harvest mouse organs (liver, heart, lungs, kidneys, spleen, intestines, brain) and prepare them for histopathology,
• Under minimal supervision, isolate primary cells for ex vivo study.
• Under minimal supervision, perform experimental work using cell culture techniques.
• Perform stoichiometric calculations involving molar and % concentration (M, m/m, v/v, m/v) as well as serial dilutions.
• Perform various immuno-assays including western blotting (WB), co-immunoprecipitation (CoIP), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence, cytokine bead array (CBA).
• Maintain complete and well-organized documentation and databases for samples collected and tested from multiple studies.
• Maintain inventories, maintain sterile conditions as required, prepare reagents, and clean equipment.
• Assist in laboratory operation and equipment maintenance.
• Provide appropriate written documentation of experiments and maintain up to date lab notebook.
• Prepare preliminary research progress reports.