Staff Scientist, Senior

The Senior Staff Scientist is part of the Biomedical Engineering research program at Vanderbilt University and is a senior individual contributor responsible for independently advancing complex experimental research programs in cell and molecular bioengineering. This position provides scientific and technical leadership for multidisciplinary projects at the interface of mammalian cell engineering, synthetic biology, regenerative medicine, and disease modeling.

The Senior Staff Scientist will independently design, execute, analyze, and troubleshoot research studies while working closely with the principal investigator to establish project strategy and priorities. The individual will lead technically demanding experimental efforts, help develop new capabilities within the laboratory, and provide scientific guidance and mentorship to junior researchers. The successful candidate will contribute substantively to manuscripts, grant applications, presentations, collaborations, and the translation of research objectives into rigorous experimental programs. The role requires a high degree of scientific judgment, initiative, accountability, and independence.

About the Work Unit:
The laboratory is a multidisciplinary research group in Vanderbilt University's Department of Biomedical Engineering. Its research combines cell and molecular engineering, synthetic biology, biomaterials, and regenerative medicine to develop new approaches for understanding and treating disease. Team members work across disciplinary boundaries and collaborate with researchers in engineering, basic science, and medicine. The work unit values scientific rigor, reliability, clear communication, thoughtful collaboration, and the development of new technical and intellectual capabilities.

Key Functions and Expected Performance:
• Independently design and execute rigorous and reproducible experimental studies addressing defined research objectives in mammalian cell engineering, regenerative medicine, and disease modeling.
• Exercise sound scientific judgment and professional acumen in developing experimental
strategy, selecting appropriate models and controls, interpreting complex or ambiguous results, prioritizing research activities, evaluating technical and scientific risk, and recommending scientifically justified next steps.
• Lead the development, optimization, validation, and documentation of new experimental methods and research capabilities.
• Model persistence, adaptability, and continuous improvement by working constructively through complex scientific and technical challenges, identifying creative approaches when established methods are insufficient, and establishing robust, reproducible workflows for use by the broader research team.
• Provide technical and scientific leadership for studies involving mammalian cells, engineered cells, stem cells, primary cells, and/or preclinical disease models.
• Contribute complementary expertise to the laboratory; experience with in vivo models of neurological/neurodegenerative or musculoskeletal disease is particularly valuable.
• Demonstrate accountability for assigned research programs by taking substantial ownership of project execution, coordinating activities across collaborators and team members, tracking milestones, proactively identifying obstacles and developing solutions, and communicating progress, risks, and changes in direction to the principal investigator.
• Communicate proactively and effectively across the research team, presenting complex scientific information clearly and ensuring that relevant results, decisions, and technical knowledge are shared with collaborators and junior researchers.
• Strengthen the effectiveness of the research team through mentorship, knowledge sharing, collaborative problem solving, and scientific and technical training of graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, research staff, and undergraduate researchers.
• Make substantive contributions to manuscripts, grant applications, scientific presentations, reports, protocols, and other scholarly products, including preparation and critical evaluation of data and scientific content.
• Maintain and promote high standards of research rigor, reproducibility, data stewardship, laboratory safety, regulatory compliance, and responsible conduct of research.
• Support strategic laboratory operations, including evaluation of new technologies, equipment and resource planning, protocol standardization, and development of shared technical capabilities.
• Perform other research and scientific leadership duties as assigned in response to evolving programmatic needs.

Supervisory Relationships:
• This position may provide day-to-day scientific and technical direction, training, and mentorship to students and research personnel but does not necessarily have formal administrative supervisory responsibility. This position reports administratively and functionally to the Principal Investigator.

Education and Certifications:
• Ph.D. or equivalent terminal degree in biomedical engineering, bioengineering, biology, molecular biology, cell biology, neuroscience, or a closely related scientific or engineering discipline is required.
• Postdoctoral or equivalent advanced research training is strongly preferred.
• Relevant laboratory safety, animal research, or other compliance training must be completed as required for assigned duties.

Experience and Skills:
• Demonstrated record of accountability, scientific judgment, effective communication, collaborative leadership, and successful independent management of complex research activities is required.
• Substantial hands-on experience conducting biomedical wet-laboratory research is required.
• Demonstrated ability to independently design, execute, analyze, and troubleshoot complex experimental studies is required.
• Strong experience with mammalian cell culture and molecular or cellular biology methods is required.
• Demonstrated scientific productivity and the ability to communicate research through manuscripts, presentations, reports, or grant-related activities is required.
• Ability to manage complex research activities, establish priorities, work across multidisciplinary teams, and mentor less-experienced researchers is required.
• Postdoctoral or equivalent experience demonstrating increasing research independence is strongly preferred.
• Expertise in animal models of disease, particularly neurological/neurodegenerative or musculoskeletal disease, is strongly preferred.
• Experience with stem cells, primary cells, genetic engineering, microscopy, flow cytometry, quantitative molecular assays, or related advanced experimental methods is preferred.
• Experience in synthetic biology, cell engineering, biomaterials, tissue engineering, or regenerative medicine is preferred but is not required.