What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lab Manager, Senior position at Vanderbilt University?
About the Work Unit:
Every major advance in medicine starts with fundamental discoveries that teach us how living organisms work in both health and disease. These discoveries are made in biomedical sciences laboratories that study life at all levels from the individual molecules that encode heredity to the complex associations of cells that form tissues and organs. Vanderbilt Basic Sciences is a tightly integrated research and education division within the School of Medicine comprising four academic departments, eight interdisciplinary centers, twenty-seven service core facilities, and the Office of Biomedical Research, Education, and Training.
Our team of over 1000 faculty, fellows, students, and staff are making new discoveries every day - discoveries that enrich our understanding of biological processes and provide the foundation for new insights into the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.
Key Functions and Expected Performance:
Under minimal supervision, plan, conduct and evaluate experiments and assays of varying complexity.
Carry out work with proper laboratory technique.
Plan and coordinate experiments in conjunction with requests from Supervisor.
Oversee the animal colony. Plan and execute breeding strategies. Conduct genotyping and other animal welfare related activities including preparation and amendments of animal protocols. Train and supervise other personnel handling daily animal colony maintenance.
Understand and follow experimental protocols (including handling of drug products, animals and biological fluids/tissues, the use and management of electrophysiology equipment, etc.)
Record, compile, interpret, and communicate data/results. Analyze and summarize test results. Provide appropriate written/oral documentation of experiments.
Follow and implement University safety protocols (may include use of combustibles, biohazardous materials and fluids/tissues, and/or radioactive materials).
Train and supervise students and other staff members within the laboratory.
Supervise data management of students and staff members in the laboratory.
Recommend improvements to established techniques and/or protocols.
Help with development of grant proposals as needed.
Maintain inventory of consumables, clean glassware/lab space, prepare and aliquot stock solutions. Assist in the efficient operation of the lab.
Manage IACUC protocols, biosafety and radiation safety certifications.
General Lab
Shared participation in laboratory operation and inventory is expected such as stocking lab supplies and preparing reagents and buffers for general lab use.
Expertise in sample processing and data analysis.
Aid in compound management duties.
Education and Certifications:
A Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education in neuroscience, pharmacology or similar field and 6 years of experience are necessary.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community necessary.
Prior experience in molecular biology, neuroscience, electrophysiology and/or pharmacology is necessary.
Strong writing skills are necessary.
Strong management and training skills are necessary.
Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities is strongly preferred.
Vanderbilt experience is preferred.
