Research Assistant I

Job Summary:

Provide, under direct supervision, support for specified research projects; collect, assess, and communicate data/results. Assist in general laboratory operation and inventory.

Research Focus:

The PI, Dolly Ann Padovani-Claudio, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Padovani-Claudio is a physician-scientist with funding from the NIH/NEI and foundations. She practices pediatric ophthalmology at the Vanderbilt Eye Institute and her research focus is on the interplay between inflammation and abnormal vessel growth in the retina.

Retinal Inflammation and new vessel growth can cause swelling, bleeding, scarring, and tissue traction leading to vision loss as seen in diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. Dr. Padovani-Claudio goal is to repurpose drugs previously developed to target inflammation and vascular growth in non-ocular systems to prevent, abort, or revert these potentially blinding conditions. Her lab uses human retinal cells from donor eyes as well as animal models to achieve these goals. Pharmacologic and genetic approaches are employed to block the function of target receptors to understand disease pathophysiology and develop new therapies.

Dr. Padovani-Claudio is looking for a research assistant who is committed and with a growth mindset. Characteristics that describe ideal candidates include: highly motivated, organized, meticulous, able to collaborate with others in lab, intellectually curious, honest, dedicated, professional, responsive to feedback, and reliable. Previous committed Research Assistants in her lab are now enrolled in graduate programs (PhD, MD/PhD) or have advanced in their positions as RAs.

Department/Unit Summary:

At the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, we strive to make life better for adults and children with eye conditions including glaucoma, vision loss and diseases of the retina. We treat patients from across Tennessee and the Southeast. Our doctors, researchers and support staff use the latest technologies and methods, and we conduct vital vision research that translates to better treatments.

The Vanderbilt Eye Institute is a leader in quality eye care. We offer the latest technologies and methods while conducting innovative research to improve patients' lives and prevent vision loss.

Click here to learn more about the Vanderbilt Eye Institute

We work hard each day because your eyes are important to us.

The Vanderbilt Eye Institute attracts some of the most talented doctors and researchers in the country. Our subspecialty ophthalmologists have completed a minimum of one year of fellowship training after residency and are board eligible or board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

Vanderbilt Eye Institute's award-winning research staff collaborates with our doctors as well as other Vanderbilt departments to pursue discoveries that enhance the vision of patients everywhere.

Position Shift:

• Days

View how Vanderbilt Health employees celebrate the difference they make every day:

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 Functions and Expected Performances after training:

1. Under minimal supervision, plan and conduct complex experiments, analyze data, prepare reports, and archive data.
   1. Accurately record/document, compile, organize, and communicate data/results.
   2. Plan and coordinate experiments in conjunction with Principal Investigator (PI).
   3. Generate, record, process and analyze data demonstrating careful record keeping as well analytical and problem-solving skills.
   4. Understand and follow experimental protocols and competently perform any required assays (may include animal handling, tissue culture, etc.)
   5. Follow University safety protocols (may include use of toxic and hazardous materials, and/or carcinogens).
   6. Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions.
   7. Perform data analysis using basic statistics and create graphs/reports.
2. Operate, maintain equipment, and troubleshoot equipment malfunctions throughout the execution of all research projects associated with the lab.
   1. Familiarize with equipment operations and manuals.
   2. Set up, maintain, troubleshoot and arrange for equipment maintenance and repair according to manufacturer and Vanderbilt University guidelines.
3. Ensure laboratory is prepared for experiments.
   1. Procure, organize and prepare lab supplies needed to complete the work.
   2. Maintain accurate and updated inventories.
   3. Maintain sterile conditions as required.
   4. Prepare reagents.
4. Assist PI in modifying procedures and techniques.
   1. Recognize problems and suggest solutions, assist in modifications.
   2. Recommend improvements to established techniques and/or protocols (troubleshooting).
   3. Maintain personal knowledge of scientific trends through literature reviews.
5. Provide appropriate written/oral documentation of experiments.
   1. Effectively communicate in oral and written formats.
   2. Prepare research progress reports.
   3. Analyze, interpret, and summarize test results.
6. Assist in the effective operation of the laboratory.
   1. Train other employees.
   2. Supervise projects and/or personnel.
   3. Serve as a liaison to other Vanderbilt Medical School Departments, Divisions and core facilities such as: Division of Animal Care (DAC), Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC), Vanderbilt Environmental Health and Safety (VEHS) etc, to ensure compliance of laboratory practices and procedures with University, local and federal rules and regulations.
7. Animal Handling in experiments
   1. Feel comfortable handling large colonies of animals and monitoring health.
   2. Perform noninvasive procedures such as Intramuscular and Intraperitoneal injections.
   3. Assist with intraocular imaging (Optical coherence tomography and Fluorescein angiography in live rodents) and rodent models of retinopathy.
   4. Set up breeding cages and maintain identities of animals through tagging and genotyping

Examples of lab Assays

In-vitro:

• Cell culture (human retinal endothelial cells, human Muller cells, human microglia)
• Cell migration assays
• Cell proliferation assays
• Tube formation assays
• Cytokine induction assays (ELISA, RT-PCR)
• Immuno-histo/cyto-chemistry
• Proteomics (WB)
• RNA sequencing
• Proteome profiling assays
• Trans-endothelial electrical resistance assays
• Leukocyte adhesion assays

In-vivo:

• Mouse colony management (breeding and genotyping mice)
• Live retinal imaging and functional assays (optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, electroretinogram (ERG))
• Mouse models of retinal disease (STZ-induced diabetes, ischemia-reperfusion injury, oxygen-induced retinopathy)
• Retinal dissection and ex-vivo analysis after therapy (leukostasis assays, vascular leakage assay Evans blue extravasation assay,)