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University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Research Specialist D

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist D

Job Description Summary

This Research Specialist D position will advance new therapeutics towards the clinic and contribute to the scientific work that will be published from the lab. Its focus will be testing new engineered T cells, evaluating their functional activity as a single agent or in combination to enhance therapeutic T cell performance, particularly in tumor microenvironments. This position will require strong immunological skills including CAR T cell manufacturing, flow cytometry, ELISA, and in vitro assays, as well as in vivo mouse studies, with a goal to enhance the therapeutic index of these therapies and understand their resulting impacts within the tumor microenvironment. The primary function of this Research Specialist D position will be to perform in a supportive and independent manner in vitro and in vivo mouse studies, colony maintenance, and day-to-day management of the research bench, all carried out for the BRITE Lab under the direct supervision of Nour Shobaki. The purpose of this position is to establish mouse studies by generating and characterizing engineered immune therapeutics, growing and developing tumor cells, performing injections, monitoring animal health, weight, and therapeutic responses, collecting datasets from the study (tumor growth, therapeutic engraftment, histology, ex vivo assays), and contributing to the evaluation, presentation, and publication of results.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Perform immunological functional assays in vitro including CAR T cell manufacturing, flow cytometry, and ELISA. Evaluate immune therapies using established protocols and contribute to development of new methods implementing state-of-the-art techniques

• Perform immunological functional assays in vivo. Execute mouse studies using established protocols and contribute to development of new protocols under the direction of the lab supervisor.

• Modify and prepare tumor cells and engineered immune therapies for in vivo mouse experiments, documenting their characteristics and performing assays defining functional performance.

• Monitor and collect datasets associated with animal studies including health monitoring and weights, tumor growth (caliper, bioimaging), bleeds, and necropsies. Perform IV, IT, IP, and SC injections of tumor cells and therapeutics.

• Prepare tissues at necropsy by fixing and isolating cells for functional and flow cytometric analysis, IHC, and spatial transcriptomic studies.

• Document experimental data, perform data analysis, and prepare presentations of results under the guidance of the lab director for lab meetings and manuscript contributions.

• Manage day-to-day research bench operations including reagent inventory, equipment upkeep, and protocol organization to ensure smooth lab function.

• Characterize transgenic mice and maintain colony.

Position is funded for one year with the possibility of being extended.

Qualifications

Required:

• Master of Science in Immunology, Cell Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field with 3–5 years of relevant research experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience

• Hands-on experience with in vitro immunological assays including flow cytometry, ELISA, cell culture, and co-culture killing assays

• Experience with in vivo mouse models including tumor inoculation, therapeutic administration, and monitoring

• Experience with CAR T cell or other engineered immune cell manufacturing

• Strong organizational and documentation skills

Preferred:

• Experience with tissue processing techniques including IHC and spatial transcriptomics

• Experience with bioimaging for tumor growth assessment

• Characterize transgenic mice and maintain mouse colonies including immunodeficient strains (e.g., NSG), supporting both genetic models and xenograft studies.

• Experience supporting or contributing to IND (Investigational New Drug) studies

• Prior contribution to peer-reviewed publications

• Ability to work independently and manage multiple concurrent experiments

• Knowledge/understanding in spatial transcriptomics and bioinformatics is a plus.

• Knowledge/understanding in microbiology is a plus.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$67,155.00 - $76,973.25 Annual Rate

Salary 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 Statement 

The 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 checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay