Research Assistant 1 - ON SITE

Montgomery College; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt Health is seeking a researcher to join the Patrick Laboratory at Vanderbilt Medical Center North, primarily Monday–Friday during daytime hours. The role focuses on post‑transcriptional regulation of macrophage immune function, employing immunology, RNA biology, molecular genetics, genomics and bioinformatics.

You will contribute to experiments in a multidisciplinary team with hands‑on training in cloning, RT‑qPCR, Western blot and mammalian tissue culture.

Qualifications

• Foundational molecular biology skills including cloning, RNA isolation, RT‑qPCR and Western blot analysis.
• Hands‑on experience with mammalian tissue culture is required.

Responsibilities

• Under supervision, run experiments, assays, and record results.
• Read and follow experimental protocols (may include animal handling, tissue culture, etc.).
• Compile and communicate results to supervisor.
• Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, radioactivity, toxic material, and/or carcinogenics).
• Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions.
• Prepare and operate equipment in experimental procedures.
• Maintain and repair equipment according to manufacturer and university guidelines.
• Ensure Laboratory is prepared for experiments.
• Maintain inventories,
• Maintain sterile conditions as required.
• Prepare reagents
• Clean equipment.

Skills

Molecular biology

Cloning

RNA isolation

RT-qPCR

Western blot

Mammalian tissue culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)

Job description

Discover Vanderbilt Health:

With eight hospitals and over 180 clinics, we are the region’s largest comprehensive academic health system. Vanderbilt Health has a long tradition of providing world-class care to the people of the Mid-South, living out our mission of moving medicine forward through preeminent programs in patient care, education and research. Here you’ll find a spirit of collaboration and a supportive community where your expertise is valued, your knowledge expanded and your uniqueness celebrated. We are committed to fostering an environment where talented, compassionate people are united in bringing the most advanced care to our neighbors throughout the region.

Organization: PMI Molecular Pathogenesis

Job Summary: Join the Patrick Laboratory, where you’ll explore how post‑transcriptional regulation shapes macrophage immune function. Our research is centered on understanding how RNA‑binding proteins and spliceosome components operate during pathogen sensing and innate immune activation. Using an interdisciplinary toolkit—immunology, RNA biology, molecular genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics—you’ll help uncover how macrophages generate immune responses that are rapid, robust, and precisely regulated.

Location & work schedule

You’ll work on site at Vanderbilt Medical Center North (5th floor, A wing). Your schedule will be primarily Monday–Friday during standard daytime business hours, and flexibility with hours is a plus.

What you’ll bring

You communicate clearly and professionally—both in writing and in conversation—and you’re comfortable taking initiative while also thriving as part of a collaborative, multidisciplinary research team. You have foundational molecular biology skills, including: Cloning RNA isolation RT‑qPCR Western blot analysis. You also have hands‑on experience with mammalian tissue culture (required).

Required qualifications

Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience)

Preferred qualifications

Prior research laboratory experience.

DEPARTMENT SUMMARY

The Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology offers a variety of post‑doctoral fellowship opportunities for individuals with the M.D., Ph.D., D.V.M., or equivalent degree. Fellowships can be purely research‑oriented experiences, and opportunities for these positions can be found at Employment and Training Opportunities. In addition to postdoctoral research fellowships, the department offers fellowship opportunities combining advanced subspecialty clinical training with related research experience. For additional information, please visit https://www.vumc.org/pmi/.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Under supervision, run experiments, assays, and record results
• Read and follow experimental protocols (May include animal handling, tissue culture, etc.)
• Compile and communicate results to supervisor
• Follow University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, radioactivity, toxic material, and/or carcinogenics)
• Perform calculations involving molarity, % solutions, and serial dilutions
• Prepare and operate equipment in experimental procedures
• May include blood gas analyzer, centrifuge, pH meter, spectrophotometer, autoclave, scintillation counter, electrophoresis unit, analytical balance, etc.
• Maintain and repair equipment according to manufacturer and university guidelines.
• Ensure Laboratory is prepared for experiments
• Maintain inventories,
• Maintain sterile conditions as required
• Prepare reagents
• Clean equipment.

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES

Core Accountabilities: Organizational Impact: Delivers job responsibilities that impact own job area/team with some guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Uses existing procedures, research and analysis to solve standard job related problems that may require some judgement. Breadth of Knowledge: Requires subject matter knowledge within a professional area to meet job requirements. Team Interaction: Individually contributes to project/ work teams.

Core Capabilities

• Supporting Colleagues:
  • 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:
  • 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: Listen carefully to understand the issues and provide accurate information and support.
• Ensuring High Quality:
  • Performing 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:
  • 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:
  • 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 changes by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.

Position Qualifications

• Responsibilities:
• Certifications :
• Work Experience :
• Relevant Work Experience Experience Level : Less than 1 year
• Education : Bachelor's

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact within Vanderbilt Health, supported by a comprehensive benefits package which may include health, disability, retirement and/or wellness offerings to enhance your well‑being and professional growth. 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. PEOPLE ARE AT THE HEART OF ALL WE DO. Great health care takes great people. We’re looking for like‑minded individuals driven to make a difference. We invite you to explore careers at Vanderbilt Health, where we value collaboration, embrace continuous learning and foster an environment where everyone can thrive. We’re the largest private employer in Middle Tennessee, with a growing team and an expanding footprint across towns and communities throughout the region. We employ more than 43,000 people who work in inpatient and outpatient clinical care, research and graduate medical education. Our employees also serve in critical supporting roles in administration, information technology and informatics, finance, legal and community affairs, communications and marketing, fundraising, groundskeeping and facilities, and many other departments.

Our growing academic health system has more than 2,100 licensed hospital beds at eight hospitals: Vanderbilt University Hospital Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital Vanderbilt Health is the Mid‑South's largest provider of specialty care, with hundreds of outpatient clinic and surgical locations throughout the region, and Tennessee’s only National Cancer Institute‑designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for adults and children. We are one of the nation's busiest critical care centers, home to Middle Tennessee’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Burn Center for adults and children, and Middle Tennessee’s only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We are the nation’s largest transplant center, and last year we performed the most heart transplants than any center worldwide. Vanderbilt Health is an epicenter for biomedical research, winning over $1 billion in annual research awards from government, industry, foundations and donors. We are also a national leader in medical training and education, with the largest clinical training center in the Mid‑South and the only training center in Tennessee for many adult and pediatric specialties. We’re honored to be consistently considered among the nation’s best hospitals for quality, safety and patient satisfaction. Three of our hospitals — Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital — have been awarded a Five‑Star Quality Rating from Medicare. We support each other and encourage excellence among every member of our workforce. High‑achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth opportunities, competitive compensation and benefits, and a sense of community and purpose. Join us in advancing health care. Our vision: The world leader in advancing personalized health Our mission: Personalizing the patient experience through our caring spirit and distinctive capabilities