Job Summary
This is an opportunity for an exceptionally motivated individual to join a dynamic, productive academic laboratory team focused on prevention, treatment, and biology of coronavirus (CoV) infections. The research program encompasses antiviral interventional strategies, CoV replication, and viral evolution. The job scope centers on countermeasures development and experimental study of emerging human CoVs, severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV, the respective causes of COVID-19 and MERS. Primary research activities of this position entail development, evaluation, and mechanistic characterization of candidate CoV therapeutics in the biosafety level (BSL)-2 and BSL-3 laboratories. Secondary responsibilities include involvement in other laboratory research focused on replication, genetic diversity, and molecular biology of human CoVs and the model CoV, murine hepatitis virus. This position anticipates a high degree of independence, advanced technical competence, rigorous protocol adherence, integrated application of diverse technologies, and communication skills commensurate with diverse collaborative interactions internal and external to the laboratory.

Department/Unit Summary:

Position Shift:

• Full Time/Non-Exempt Position

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VUMC Recent Accomplishments

Because we are committed to providing the best in patient care, education and research, we are proud of our recent accomplishments:

* 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.

* American Association for the Advancement of Science: The School of Medicine has 112 elected fellows

* Magnet Recognition Program: Received our third consecutive Magnet designations.

* National Academy of Medicine: 22 members, elected by their peers in recognition of outstanding achievement

* Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index: 6^th year in a row that Vanderbilt University Medical Center was a Leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality.

Key Functions and Responsibilities:

1. Conduct and trouble-shoot research at BSL-2 and BSL-3 with limited supervision

• Plan, design, and implement experiments
• Establish and validate research protocols
• Develop standard operating procedures for data collection, evaluation, and analysis
• Collect and interpret research data
• Generate reports, graphs, charts, tables, etc. of research findings

2. Maintain scientific equipment

3. Exercise discretion and independent judgment to develop methods and procedures for installation, validation, calibration, and operation of scientific equipment

4. Communicate research findings in regular laboratory group conferences and ad hoc with individual lab members to ensure continuing scientific progress required for on-time submission of funding proposals, progress reports, and manuscripts

5. Provide research supervision and training

• Train new lab members for work at BSL-2 and BSL-3
• Provide technical guidance to students, post-doctoral fellows, staff, and faculty as needed

6. Maintain BSL-3 laboratory in continuous readiness for research activities
Monitor supply inventories and order and restock as needed
Monitor and replenish disinfectant solutions
Conduct monthly operational checks and take corrective actions where indicated
Interact with Institutional Biosafety in matters related to required documentation, record-keeping, and ongoing laboratory functionality within prescribed parameters
Lead activities associated with ongoing certification and proper functioning of the laboratory
Coordinate with Institutional Biosafety and Facilities Management as required

Position Qualifications:

• Bachelors Diploma (or equivalent experience) and 4 years relevant experience

Additional Requirements:
A minimum of a bachelor's degree in the biological sciences or other relevant field and prior experience in virology research working at biosafety level 3 is required. Experience with cell and tissue culture; viral replication assays; protein expression, purification, and analysis; and/or antivirals is preferred. The applicant must successfully complete a federal security risk assessment for work in the BSL-3 laboratory.

.*CA

• Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:
  
  Movement
  
  • Occasional: Sitting: Remaining in seated position
  • 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: 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: 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.