Position Summary:
The Lippmann Lab in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Vanderbilt University seeks candidates to fill an animal research specialist position. The lab's mission is to model, understand, and treat neurodegeneration using multidisciplinary approaches spanning engineering, neuroscience, and regenerative medicine. Please refer to www.lippmannlab.com to learn more about our research, team members, and news updates.


The animal research specialist will support therapeutic endeavors being conducted by the Lippmann lab that involve delivery of hydrogels, siRNAs, proteins, and cells into the brain and periphery. The specialist will perform intracerebroventricular, intra cisterna magna, and intrathecal injections of siRNA conjugates, as well as intraparenchymal injections of designer proteins and engineered cells, including mesenchymal stromal cell and induced pluripotent stem cell-derived products. The specialist will also perform injections of hydrogels, with or without engineered cells, into central and peripheral sites to assess therapeutic outcomes as part of several collaborative projects with other research groups. These activities will be performed on healthy animals, as well as animals subjected to femoral artery ligation, femur fracture, or spinal fusion. If not fluent in these techniques, the specialist will be required to learn them and/or effectively collaborate on their implementation. Overall, these activities are expected to take 80% of the specialist’s effort. The remaining 20% of the specialist’s effort will be devoted to animal support for the Chapman Lab in the same department.


The Chapman Lab designs vaccines and therapeutics designed to directly engage B lymphocytes. For more information, please explore www.thechapmanlab.com. In this role, the animal specialist will support breeding programs, establish murine models of autoimmune disease pemphigus vulgaris, perform parenteral injections, collect specimens, and conduct necropsies.


Key Functions and Expected Performance:
1.
Mouse colony maintenance
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Breeding and genotyping of wildtype and transgenic mice, including immunocompromisedstrains
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Detailed inventories coupled to experimental timelines
2.
Non-surgical animal procedures
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Subcutaneous, intramuscular, intradermal, intravenous, and retro-orbital injections
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Euthanasia and tissue harvesting
3.
Animal survival surgeries
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ICV, ICM, and intraparenchymal injections in mice
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Intrathecal injections in rats
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Femoral artery ligation in mice
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Femur fracture and spinal fusion procedures in mice

Animal models of autoimmune disease
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Establish active and passive models of pemphigus vulgaris
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Establish active experimental model of myasthenia gravis (EAMG) and perform behavioral tests of muscle strength
5.
Assist with animal-related lab operations
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Maintain survival surgery records
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Initiate and implement IACUC protocol updates
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Train other members of the lab on relevant techniques.


Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the PI.


Education and Certifications:
A master’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., engineering, biology, chemistry, biochemistry) or related experiences is required.


Experience and Skills:
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Experience in mouse survival surgery is required.
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Strong communication and organizational skills are required.
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Diligence along with the ability and desire to maintain high quality records and safety standards are required.
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Willingness to train others in relevant techniques and strong interpersonal skills are required