Research Assistant I, Cell & Developmental Biology

The RAI position is part of the research group of Dr. Guoqiang Gu in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at Vanderbilt University, School of Medicine. This RA will be responsible for conducting basic research in the field of diabetes. Reporting directly to, and under the supervision of, Dr. Gu and lab manager Ruiying Hu, the RAI is expected to perform basic procedures in cell/RNA preparation, imaging, computational gene expression analysis, and physiological studies primarily in islet culture and mouse models.

The specific roles of this position include but are not limited to: mouse handling, cell preparation from dissected tissues, RNA preparation, computational analysis of gene expression using the Image J and R-package (with some supervision). This RA is also expected to help with mouse colony management, tissue collection, tissue fixation, sectioning, and immunostaining. Candidate who fills this position is expected to accurately observe, record, and then report the findings to Dr. Gu and/or manager Hu. Motivations to move up to higher level of more-independent projects is also expected.

The Department of Cell and Developmental Biology is a vibrant, interdisciplinary environment for cutting-edge research over a scale that spans seven powers of ten, from single molecules to whole organisms. The difference between a test tube and a cell is spatio-temporal organization, and we study molecular, cellular and tissue organization in many of the laboratories within our department, seeking insights into fundamental biological questions and human disease. We are an interactive and highly collaborative department, with a strong graduate student association, outstanding core facilities, a top- ranked developmental biology program, and exceptionally strong faculty. Recent faculty recruits are studying cell migration using super-resolution microscopy, single molecule analysis of microtubule dynamics, systems biology of intestinal epithelia, stem cell biology, and the regulation of plasma membrane composition and ageing.

Duties and Responsibilities
Under minimal-to-moderate supervision of Dr. Gu and/or Hu, this RA is expected to do:

Qualifications

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.