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:

Section Surgical Research

Job Summary:

In this pivotal role as a Research Assistant II, you will support ongoing research in a dynamic surgical research laboratory. With moderate supervision, you’ll contribute to day-to-day research activities including experimental procedures, animal care, data collection, and general lab operations. This position has a strong emphasis on veterinary anesthesia, perioperative care, and surgical support, and also provides opportunities to assist with additional laboratory and research functions as needed.

Key Tasks:
- Assist with surgical and non-surgical experimental procedures
- Support veterinary anesthesia, perioperative monitoring, and post-procedure care
- Provide daily animal care and ensure adherence to established protocols
- Collect, document, and organize research data accurately
- Help maintain lab readiness, supplies, and routine operational needs

Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent combination of education and experience)
- 2 years of relevant experience
- Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) not required, but strongly preferred
- Comfortable and willing to work with any species of animal

Schedule & Location
Monday–Friday, standard daytime business hours

On-site at Vanderbilt Medical Center North
1211 21st Ave. South, Nashville, TN

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DEPARTMENT SUMMARY:

The Department of Surgery at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine is the largest of seven Departments in the Section of Surgical Sciences. Founded in 1925, it is the product of a long tradition of excellence in patient care, education and innovation. Our Department is organized into six Divisions: General Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Surgical Oncology and Endocrine Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Trauma and Surgical Critical Care including Burn Surgery and Emergency General Surgery.  We provide services to distinct but geographically close hospitals including the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, the Vanderbilt Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital, the Nashville Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Nashville General Hospital, and Williamson Medical Center. For more information, please visit  https://www.vumc.org/surgical-sciences/department-surgery.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES •

•Assist with surgical research procedures following established protocols

•Provide perioperative care for animal models, including anesthesia induction, monitoring, and recovery

•Prepare animals and equipment for surgical procedures (e.g., catheter placement, intubation, surgical prep)

• Monitor and record intraoperative and post-operative data

•Set up and maintain procedure rooms, surgical suites, and research areas

•Sterilize instruments and supplies, prepare and wrap surgical and linen packs

•Clean, organize, and maintain lab and surgical environments

•Assist with equipment setup, operation, and troubleshooting

•Maintain inventory and ensure supplies and medications are within expiration

•Follow all institutional safety and compliance requirements, including animal care standards

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

•Veterinary Technician/Technologist (LVMT/RVT/LVT/CVT) preferred

•2 years experience (Required)

Our Academic Enterprise is one of the nation’s longest serving and most prestigious academic medical centers. Through its historic bond with Vanderbilt University and integral role in the School of Medicine, Vanderbilt Health cultivates distinguished research and educational programs to advance a clinical enterprise that provides compassionate and personalized care and support for millions of patients and family members each year.

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.

Aligning with Vanderbilt Health’s Strategic Directions, the Office of Research provides shared research resources, administrative expertise and professional guidance to enable the trans-disciplinary environment and highly collaborative culture that advances discovery and training for all the research faculty, trainees, students and staff. 

Core Accountabilities:

Organizational Impact: Executes job responsibilities with the understanding of how output would affect and impact other areas related to own job area/team with occasional guidance. Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Analyzes moderately complex problems using technical experience and judgment. Breadth of Knowledge: Has expanded knowledge gained through experience within a professional area. Team Interaction: Provides informal guidance and support to team members.

Core Capabilities :

Supporting Colleagues:- Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy, and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance e and gain knowledge in new areas.- Builds and Maintains Relationships: Maintains regular contact with key colleagues and stakeholders using formal and informal opportunities to expand and strengthen relationships.- Communicates Effectively: Recognizes group interactions and modifies one's own communication style to suit different situations and audiences. Delivering Excellent Services:- Serves Others with Compassion: Seeks to understand current and future needs of relevant stakeholders and customizes services to better address them.- Solves Complex Problems: Approaches problems from different angles; Identifies new possibilities to interpret opportunities and develop concrete solutions.- Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing support and coaching in a constructive manner to increase employees' effectiveness. Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Engages regularly in formal and informal dialogue about quality; directly addresses quality issues promptly.- Ensures Continuous Improvement: Applies various learning experiences by looking beyond symptoms to uncover underlying causes of problems and identifies ways to resolve them. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Understands all aspects of providing a safe environment and performs routine safety checks to prevent safety hazards from occurring. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Demonstrates a sense of ownership, focusing on and driving critical issues to closure.- Stewards Organizational Resources: Applies understanding of the departmental work to effectively manage resources for a department/area.- Makes Data Driven Decisions: Demonstrates strong understanding of the information or data to identify and elevate opportunities. Fostering Innovation:- Generates New Ideas: Proactively identifies new ideas/opportunities from multiple sources or methods to improve processes beyond conventional approaches.- Applies Technology: Demonstrates an enthusiasm for learning new technologies, tools, and procedures to address short-term challenges.- Adapts to Change: Views difficult situations and/or problems as opportunities for improvement; actively embraces change instead of emphasizing negative elements.

Position Qualifications:

Responsibilities:

Certifications :

Work Experience :

Relevant Work Experience

Experience Level :

2 years

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.