JOB SUMMARY:

The ideal candidate will function as a laboratory resource and make essential contributions by culturing cells (both eukaryotic & prokaryotic), performing molecular biology (e.g. transformations, DNA preparation, PCR, sequence analysis, etc.), expressing and purifying proteins, characterizing antibodies (e.g. ELISA), conducting LIBRA-seq (linking B cell receptor to antigen specificity through sequencing) assays, and completing other responsibilities as necessitated. The successful candidate will independently conduct and design highly sophisticated experiments. The Basic Scientist Assistant I will also assist in other laboratory and research functions, assist the principal investigator with grant, manuscript, and report preparation, mentor lab members in developing research projects, and provide technical guidance. Exceptional organizational skills, verbal communication, written communication, attention to detail, and ability to function as part of a dynamic research team are required.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Vanderbilt Vaccine Center (VVC) is recognized as one of the leading vaccine centers in the world with broad expertise in basic and clinical discovery related to understanding and optimizing disease prevention through vaccination. At the interface of immunology and virology, recent computational advances have allowed us to better understand the interactions between antibodies and antigen, to design immunogens capable of eliciting target antibody specificities, and to optimize antibodies as clinical products. Research efforts in the Georgiev laboratory aim to utilize the power of computation to increase our understanding of fundamental questions in immunology and virology and to develop novel ways of using this understanding to fight diseases. For the translational component of our research, we apply structure-based protein design approaches to the development of new vaccine and antibody product candidates against a number of viruses of biomedical interest.

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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. It is a place where your diversity -- of culture, thinking, learning and leading -- 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.

VUMC Recent Accomplishments

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: 6^th year in a row that Vanderbilt University Medical Center was a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Independently oversee research projects and perform near to totally independent research
• Supervise, plan, design and implement research projects
• Establish highly complex protocol(s); define data collection, evaluation, and analysis procedures
• Exercise discretion and independent judgement to develop methods and procedures for operation of complex scientific equipment
• Supervise set-up and operation of various scientific experiments involving complex apparatus and equipment
• Contribute to research to merit serving as author or co-author on research publications, etc.
• Assist principal investigator (PI) in writing research grants and contract proposals
• Assist PI in manuscript preparation for scientific journals
• Present research findings
• Responsible for plan and coordination of literature and library searches and data collection programs
• Develop reports of results, graphs, charts, tables, etc. of research findings
• Supervise writing, reviewing, and editing of various materials for publication
• Mentor and teach students and research fellows in developing their projects and on specific techniques and protocols
• Provide technical guidance as required
• Make recommendations to PI regarding staff, supply, and equipment needs for research projects
• Maintain open communication between departments and others
• Open contact as needed with PI, collaborating professionals, and others
• Contact as required with sponsoring agencies and collaborating professionals

CORE CAPABILITIES:

SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES (P1):

• - Develops Self and Others: Continuously improves own skills by identifying development opportunities.
• - Builds and Maintains Relationships: Seeks to understand colleagues' priorities, working styles and develops relationships across areas.
• - Communicates Effectively: Openly shares information with others and communicates in a clear and courteous manner.

DELIVERING EXCELLENT SERVICES (P1):

• - Serves Others with Compassion: Invests time to understand the problems, needs of others and how to provide excellent service.
• - Solves Complex Problems: Seeks to understand issues, solves routine problems, and raises proper concerns to supervisors in a timely manner.
• - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.

ENSURING HIGH QUALITY (P1):

• - Performs Excellent Work: Checks work quality before delivery and asks relevant questions to meet quality standards.
• - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Shows eagerness to learn new knowledge, technologies, tools or systems and displays willingness to go above and beyond.
• - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Demonstrates basic knowledge of conditions that affect safety and reports unsafe conditions to the appropriate person or department.

MANAGING RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY (P1):

• - Demonstrates Accountability: Takes responsibility for completing assigned activities and thinks beyond standard approaches to provide high-quality work/service.
• - Stewards Organizational Resources: Displays understanding of how personal actions will impact departmental resources.
• - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Uses accurate information and good decision making to consistently achieve results on time and without error.

FOSTERING INNOVATION (P1):

• - Generates New Ideas: Willingly proposes/accepts ideas or initiatives that will impact day-to-day operations by offering suggestions to enhance them.
• - Applies Technology: Absorbs new technology quickly; understands when to utilize the appropriate tools and procedures to ensure proper course of action.
• - Adapts to Change: Embraces change by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Doctorate/PhD and < 2 years relevant experience

• Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:
• • Light Work category requiring exertion up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally and uses negligible amounts of force to move objects.
  
  
  Movement
  
  • Occasional: Sitting: Remaining in seated position
  • Occasional: Standing: Remaining on one's feet without moving.
  • Occasional: Walking: Moving about on foot.
  • Occasional: Lifting under 35 lbs: Raising and lowering objects under 35 lbs from one level to another
  • Occasional: Push/Pull: Exerting force to move objects away from or toward.
  • Occasional: Bending/Stooping: Trunk bending downward and forward by bending spine at waist requiring full use of lower extremities and back muscles
  • Occasional: Reaching below shoulders: Extending arms in any direction below shoulders.
  • Occasional: Handling: Seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hand or hands.
  
  
  Sensory
  
  • Occasional: Vision: Clarity of near vision at 20 inches or less and far vision at 20 feet or more with depth perception, peripheral vision, color vision.
  • Frequent: Noise: May include exposure to occupational noise levels which equal or exceed an 8-hr time-weighted average of 85 decibels, requiring enrollment in VUMC's Hearing Conservation Program which includes training, use of hearing protection, and periodic audiometry.
  • Continuous: Communication: Expressing or exchanging written/verbal/electronic information.
  
  
  Environmental Conditions

Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled