Research Assistant Job at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA | Life Sciences | Apply Online
If you are a recent science graduate looking to launch your career in translational medicine, this full-time position at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is an exceptional entry-level choice. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, this role embeds you directly within the Choksi Lab inside the GI Medicine Research division. For early-career professionals searching for a foundational Research Assistant Job, this position offers a structured, hands-on environment to master preclinical disease models and in vivo techniques. It serves as an excellent operational launchpad for a long-term Life Sciences Job and stands out as a premier Job in USA opportunity for entry-level candidates.
- Job Position: Research Assistant 1 – GI Medicine (Choski Lab)
- Location: Nashville, TN
- Job requisition ID: R-59886
About The University & Lab
Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most prestigious academic medical complexes. Operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and compassionate patient care, VUMC is deeply integrated with the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. Dr. Choksi’s laboratory focuses specifically on the molecular mechanisms driving esophageal inflammation and cancer (such as Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma). The lab provides a supportive, trans-disciplinary environment where physician-scientists and basic researchers collaborate to translate laboratory discoveries into life-saving clinical interventions.
Research Assistant Job – Key Responsibilities
As a Research Assistant I, you will provide critical technical support for ongoing biomedical research projects, balancing active mouse model handling with day-to-day laboratory operations.
Your core experimental and administrative duties will include:
- Animal Husbandry & Handling: Performing vital rodent husbandry tasks, including the physical handling, daily monitoring, breeding tracking, and experimental manipulation of laboratory mice to advance this Research Assistant Job.
- Preclinical In Vivo Procedures: Executing experimental protocols under delegation, which includes therapeutic dosing, monitoring disease progression, and performing humane euthanasia when required by the study parameters.
- Data Logging & Verification: Maintaining accurate, highly detailed paper and electronic records of animal health, procedural timelines, and raw experimental observations to support this Life Sciences Job.
- Daily Lab Operations: Supporting senior postdoctoral researchers and graduate students with data collection, biospecimen processing, biochemical analysis, and general laboratory organization.
- Safety & Regulatory Compliance: Strictly following all institutional animal care guidelines (IACUC), as well as chemical, biological, and radiation safety protocols.
Qualifications & Requirements For Research Assistant Job
This position is explicitly structured as an introductory role, prioritizing a strong work ethic and an eagerness to learn over extensive industry experience.
- Educational Foundation: A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) or Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in the life sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Biotechnology), or a closely related field is required to land this Job in USA.
- Experience Level: Less than 1 year of professional experience (Entry-Level). Prior undergraduate research experience or independent laboratory coursework is preferred but not mandatory—the lab will fully train the right candidate.
- Animal Comfort: Absolute comfort with, or a strong willingness to be trained in, working with laboratory mice (including physical touch, restraint, and euthanasia).
- Core Competencies: Exceptional attention to detail, a collaborative mindset, a robust work ethic, and the ability to strictly follow complex written and verbal instructions.
In short, the Research Assistant I position in the Choksi Lab at VUMC is a definitive route to transitioning your undergraduate science degree into a highly competitive portfolio for future industry roles or advanced graduate/medical school applications. Securing this position allows you to gain rare, hands-on mastery over in vivo disease models under the direct mentorship of world-class basic and physician-scientists. If you possess a life sciences degree, a sharp eye for detailed record-keeping, and are excited to contribute to cancer research, apply today to secure this premier Research Assistant Job.
