MidFull TimeEN
Job Description
The Lessard Laboratory is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Research Coordinator with an interest in laboratory studies related to exercise physiology, nutrition, metabolism, and diabetes. The lab is located within the Center for Exercise Medicine Research (CEMR) in the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) in Roanoke Virginia. The successful candidate will work on NIH-funded research projects to determine how exercise training, in combination with dietary and pharmacological therapies, influence health and metabolism. More information on current studies can be found at https://fbri.vtc.vt.edu/research/labs/lessard.html.
The primary responsibilities of this position will be to assist with various experimental protocols including tissue culture systems, mouse husbandry and physiology, and molecular biology assays. The Research Coordinator will also spend significant time and effort on general lab maintenance and organization. The successful candidate should be detail-oriented and highly organized with excellent communication skills. The Research Coordinator should also be flexible regarding daily tasks and thrive in a fast-paced research environment. Additional duties include data management and analysis, completing laboratory safety and compliance training, and maintaining a detailed laboratory notebook. Initial training will be provided for all aspects of the position. Benefits of this position include gaining high-level research experience, authorship in scientific publications, and working in a collaborative and intellectually stimulating environment. This is an excellent position for candidates interested in pursuing medical or graduate school in the future.
Required Qualifications
• Demonstrated research experience
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• Demonstrated organizational skills and attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability and desire to succeed in a fast-paced research environment with multiple concurrent duties
• Excellent communication skills
• Willingness to work with and handle live mice
• Willingness to work with tissues and blood samples from animals and humans
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in a higher education or research setting
• Coursework or training in biology, health sciences, biochemistry, exercise physiology, or another related field
• Proficiency with data collection and analysis in an academic/research setting
• Experience with tissue culture and aseptic technique
• Experience with handling animal models to conduct research
• Knowledge and/or experience in exercise physiology, metabolism, or diabetes research
Pay Band
4
Overtime Status
Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime
Appointment Type
Restricted
Salary Information
Commensurate with Experience
Hours per week
40
Review Date
5/27/2026
Additional Information
The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.
About Virginia Tech
Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.
Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.
Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.
If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Brittany Shelton at sheltb@vtc.vt.edu during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.
