Research Specialist A/B

Research Specialist A/B (Department of Cancer Biology)The Goodman Lab for Synthetic Immunology is a new research group at The University of Pennsylvania. We are seeking highly motivated and enthusiastic candidates especially interested in synthetic biology, cell therapy, and immunoengineering to join our founding team. Our lab's focus is on high-throughput genetic manipulation and measurement of primary immune cell populations, with the ultimate goal of improving cellular immunotherapies for cancer and other diseases. Under the direction of Dr. Daniel Goodman, the specialist will apply cutting-edge approaches to achieve these goals. The selected candidate will help to set up lab protocols, processes, and equipment, and then will perform a variety of experimental techniques such as molecular cloning, cell culture (cell lines and primary cells), flow cytometry, and preparation of DNA libraries for high throughput sequencing. Successful candidates will have a strong background in immunology and molecular biology, be highly motivated, and have excellent organizational skills. They will receive detailed technical training from Dr. Goodman and will execute cellular assays to collect, analyze, and compile data in support of our research. This position provides an excellent opportunity for individuals considering graduate or medical school and offers extensive hands-on experience in biomedical research at the forefront of in-demand fields like cell therapy and immunoengineering.
Job ResponsibilitiesDrive a research project by performing various investigative procedures (ex: collect, analyze and interpret data, and present data at group meetings)Collect, record, organize, and verify the accuracy of data; perform calculations and prepare charts, graphs, and reports.
Help in the general running of the lab, including receiving items, generating protocols, and maintaining lab organization.
Become familiar with the scientific literature and participate in group meetingsOther duties and responsibilities as assignedQualifications: Research Specialist ABachelor of Science and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Willingness and ability to work independently, learn new methods, and be engaged as part of a research team.
Excellent skills in communication, organization, and time management.
See preferred skills belowQualifications: Research Specialist BBachelor's degree in a relevant discipline and 1-3 years of relevant research experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Willingness and ability to work independently, learn new methods, and be engaged as part of a research team.
Excellent skills in communication, organization, and time managementThe Research Specialist B will also demonstrate a higher level of independent work:Independently design, troubleshoot, and optimize experiments related to T cell engineering and synthetic immunology.
Analyze and interpret experimental data with minimal supervision.
Contribute to manuscript preparation, presentations, and grant submissionsSee preferred skills belowPreferred

Skills:
The following skills (e.g. through undergraduate research experiences or coursework) are preferred for candidates, in order of importance:Prior research experience in a related field (e.g., synthetic biology, systems biology, immunology, bioengineering, chemical biology, molecular biology, cell biology).
Experience with the culture of mammalian cells (e.g., tumor cell lines, PBMCs, primary T cells).
Experience in the design and assembly of DNA constructs (modern molecular cloning techniques such Golden Gate or Gibson Assembly).
Experience preparing RNA and DNA high-throughput sequencing libraries (e.g. Illumina, 10X Genomics).
Experience with the culture of mammalian cells (e.g., tumor cell lines, PBMCs, primary T cells).
Experience in flow cytometry or cell sorting.
Experience handling mice and performing experiments using in vivo mouse models of disease, especially cancer models.
Experience with bioinformatics pipelines and visualization tools (e.g. Python and R).
Job Location
- City, StatePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaDepartment / SchoolPerelman School of MedicinePay Range$45,278.00
- $57,335.40 Annual RateSalary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
Equal Opportunity StatementThe University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Special Requirements Background ch