Research Scholar, Biomedical Engineering

The Research Scholar is part of the Biomedical Engineering work unit within the Vanderbilt University School of Engineering. The position is providing essential support in the acquisition of neural data from brain neurophysiological recordings in human studies and animal experiments. The position is responsible for designing experimental apparatus and software for investigating the neural basis of cognitive functions, analysis of data, authoring research articles, and basic administrative duties. The position will also provide technical assistance for maintaining behavioral and neural recording systems operational, support experiments, and evaluate and analyze experimental data in alignment with the lab’s core function.

The Department of Biomedical Engineering at Vanderbilt is unique among biomedical engineering programs in its immediate proximity to the world class Vanderbilt Medical Center, located on our compact campus. Our School of Medicine is among the top ten in funding from the National Institutes of Health and includes a National Cancer Institute-recognized Comprehensive Cancer Center, a major children’s hospital and a Level I trauma center. This proximity and the strong relationships among faculty across multiple schools stimulate high impact research and provide unique educational and research opportunities for students. sentences describing the business unit.
 

Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and integrate neural recording systems to support data collection and analyses within the lab
• Provide support for hardware and software issues involving lab equipment
• Contribute to the creation and refinement of technical support protocols, procedures, and best practices
• Complete animal facility clearance requirements as necessary
• Support behavioral training and data capture as outlined in the experiment and within stipulations of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) protocol
• Perform data analysis of non-human primate and/or human neural data
• Assist with the processing of CT and MRI image data
• Participate in the authoring of research articles and other publications
• Foster effective and clear communication within the team
• Understand protocols and follow guidelines consistently, with guidance when necessary
• Collaborate with lab personnel to ensure that support processes align with lab goals and standards
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• A master’s or PhD degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required.
• Minimum of 2-3 years of experience
• A professional attitude, high level of motivation, initiative and good work ethic is required.
• Ability to maintain quality and safety standards is required.
• Ability to understand and follow complex, detailed technical instructions is required.
• Strong communication skills and collaboration are required.
• Experience in computer programming (R, C++, MATLAB, etc.) and data analysis is preferred.
• Knowledge of multiple operating systems, network troubleshooting, and a broad range of software applications is preferred.
• Mechanical design and CAD skills are preferred.
• Higher education experience is strongly preferred.
• Ability to work independently with a high level of self-motivation is preferred.
• Ability to learn new skills quickly is preferred.
• Adaptability to ever changing projects and people is preferred.
• Computer and database skills are preferred.
• Hands-on experience in behavioral training and procedures involving non-human primates is preferred.

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. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

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.