Associate Basic Scientist:

JOB SUMMARY:
Basic scientists focus on high-level scientific research and development, investigative experiments, data analysis, and formal data presentation. This position may include the expectation of necessary skills to manage the day-to-day operations of the laboratory and its personnel.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Perform laboratory experiments and produce competent and reproducible results to a high technical standard
• Devise research methods, prepare technical specifications, and specify laboratory test equipment and processes
• Analyze data, and interpret and present results with minimal faculty supervision
• Design experiments and implement and standardize new processes and procedures based on expert knowledge of literature and subject matter
• Maintain detailed documentation and write formal scientific reports suitable for publication
• Prepare and/or maintain samples and specimens
• Manage laboratory personnel
• Maintain and operate standard laboratory equipment, including centrifuges, pipetting machines, spectrometers, ELISA readers, as well as specialized equipment necessary to support the laboratory
• Perform mathematical calculations and generate relevant statistics to support scientific output
• Prepare materials suitable for institutional review of formal protocols and operating procedures with minimal faculty supervision

TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES:

CORE ACCOUNTABILITIES:

CORE CAPABILITIES:

SUPPORTING COLLEAGUES:

• Develops Self and Others: Invests time, energy and enthusiasm in developing self/others to help improve performance 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.

REQUIRED:

• Doctorate/PhD
• 5 years relevant experience

Physical Requirements/Strengths needed & Physical Demands:

• Light Work category requiring exertion up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally and uses negligible amounts of force to move objects.

• 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.

• 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.
• Frequent: 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.