The Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center is seeking a Laboratory technician to work on a project investigating mechanisms of hearing and multisensory integration (neuronal signal processing and neural basis of behavior) in macaque monkeys. Duties include, but are not limited to: data analysis, engineering set-up and maintenance of computers and hardware, participation in behavioral/ neurophysiological experiments, training animals for various behavioral tasks, timely data entry, maintenance of neat and orderly records, handling of macaques, and other duties necessary for functioning of the laboratory. The individual must demonstrate a willingness to multitask and learn more advanced technical skills as required. The suitable candidate should be able to participate in the day-to-day operations of studies (data collection and analysis).
The ideal applicant will have previous experience with engineering and/or programming, and an interest in neuroscience research. Any prior experience in electrophysiology, or instrumental training of animals is a major plus. The position requires excellent communication skills, and large amounts of patience. Flexibility is a must, as you should be willing to work some weekends and holidays, and overtime as required, as well as participate in training and occupational health and safety programs. Employees must be able to effectively follow complex oral and written instructions. The ideal applicant will demonstrate the ability to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) and/or create new SOPs, and to interact with other personnel in a professional and courteous manner. Bachelor's degree with programming/engineering experience required. Enthusiasm for working closely with monkeys is necessary. Experience with MATLAB or LabView is highly desirable.
Department/Unit Summary
The Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center specializes in ear, nose, and throat diseases, and communication disorders. In Hearing and Speech, we diagnose and treat hearing, speech, language and cognitive problems that affect communication. Our team of more than 100 experts includes audiologists, speech-language pathologists, teachers of the deaf, occupational therapists, physical therapists and social workers. We offer every patient compassionate, personalized care. In addition to clinical services, faculty members also perform research in audiology, speech language pathology, and neuroscience. For more information, please visit https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/billwilkerson/24359 .
Salary is commensurate with experience.
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* 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.
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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: Listens carefully to understand the issues and provides accurate information and support.
ENSURING HIGH QUALITY:
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:
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 change by keeping an open mind to changing plans and incorporates change instructions into own area of work.
Basic Qualifications
REQUIRED:
Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience)
< 1 year experience
Computer experience; quantitative expertise preferred but minimally, should possess basic programming knowledge/experience
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: Crawling:Moving about on hands and knees or hands and feet.
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.
Occasional: 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
Occasional: Chemicals and Gasses: Medications, cleaning chemicals, oxygen, other medical gases used in work area.
Occasional: Pathogens: Risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens and other contagious illnesses.
Occasional: Radiation: May be exposed to occupational radiation, requiring enrollment in VUMC's Radiation Safety Program which includes training, use of personal protective equipment with lead shielding, and personal dose monitoring.
Occasional: Climate: Ability to withstand exposure to atmospheric extremes including heat, cold, humidity, and barometric pressure changes.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center is home to Vanderbilt University Hospital, The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital and the Vanderbilt Stallworth Rehabilitation Hospital. These hospitals experienced more than 61,000 inpatient admissions during fiscal year 2015. Vanderbilt’s adult and pediatric clinics treated nearly 2 million patients during this same period. Vanderbilt University Hospital and the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt are recognized again this year by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals as among the nation’s best with 18 nationally ranked specialties. Vanderbilt University Medical Center is world renowned because of the innovation, work ethic and collegiality of its employees. From our health care advances to our compassionate care, Vanderbilt owes its accomplishments and reputation to staff and faculty who bring skill and drive and innovation to the medical center day after day. World-leading academic departments and comprehensive centers of excellence pursue scientific discoveries and transformational educational and clinical advances across the entire spectrum of health and disease.As t...he largest employer in middle Tennessee, we welcome those who are interested in ongoing development in a caring, culturally sensitive and professional atmosphere. Most of us spend so much of our lives at work, we want to be part of maintaining a workplace in which people support one another and encourage reaching for excellence. Many high-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt because of the professional growth they experience and because of their appreciation of Vanderbilt’s benefits, public events and discussions, athletic opportunities, beautiful setting and, above all, sense of community and purpose.Vanderbilt and its employees share a set of mutual expectations that have been created with productivity, legality, fairness and safety always in mind. We believe that our investment in training and compensating employees multiplies in value when we enable individuals to deliver their best performance for the benefit of us all.
