Chemical Management Specialist

About the Work Unit

The Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology (VICB) is a multi-disciplinary institute within the Basic Sciences of the Vanderbilt School of Medicine. Founded in 2002, the VICB's stated mission was to "establish research and education programs in the application of chemical technologies to important biological problems." The VICB provides a vibrant interdisciplinary environment that fosters new discovery and research innovation at Vanderbilt. It will be critical to the future exploration of new dimensions for successful multi-investigator initiatives and the ongoing integration of chemical biology education and research into disease-focused programs across the Vanderbilt campus.

Key Functions and Expected Performance

1. Compound Inventory Management, Registration, and Distribution

• Lead all aspects of compound management (CM), including compound tracking, registration, and distribution while maintaining a high level of efficiency, rigor, and quality in operation.
• Provide customized compound distribution and reformatting.
• Coordinates purchase of new and refreshed compounds and library acquisitions, including registration, reformatting, storage, and distribution.
• Coordinate post-screening compound reorder requests, requiring external vendor communications, cost estimates, procurement, communication with requestors, and tracking and managing compound delivery.
• In collaboration with HTS Software Engineer, troubleshoot, maintain, and develop software and hardware, as required, for integration between instruments and database.
• Supervise research staff to perform weekly compound management support tasks. 

2. Point of Contact for All Compound Management Library Screening Needs

• Provide prompt response to compound management requests from users, PI's, outside staff, and HTS staff scientists, including compound reorders, distributions, plate requests, etc.
• Interact with staff Research Analyst to assure rigorous compound tracking to ensure high-quality screening data and its curation.

3. Maintenance and Service of Compound Management-Associated Instrumentation

• Maintain records of compound management-associated instrument usage and standard operation procedures (SOPs). Coordinate calibration of and service on CM instruments. Primary CM instruments include: Zinnser Analytical system, Hamilton Verso M2 robotic compound storage system, and ECHO 650 acoustic liquid dispenser.
• Manage compound management-associated instrumentation troubleshooting and maintenance, including correspondence with vendor service engineers as required.