Research Technologist - Heart & Vascular Institute

Research Technologist – Life Sciences Application Instructions

Use Workday for internal or student applications. External applicants should click “Apply” and submit through the provided link.

• CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student): log in to Workday to complete the internal application process. Do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State: log in to Workday to complete the student application process. Do not apply here, apply internally through Workday.
• NOT a current employee or student: click “Apply” and complete the application process for external applicants.

Department:
Heart and Vascular Institute
FLSA:
Staff
Level: Intermediate Professional

Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location. For additional information on remote work at Penn State, see Notice to Out of State Applicants.

The Penn State College of Medicine, Heart and Vascular Institute located in Hershey, PA is seeking a research technologist. The position is immediately available in Dr. Elisa Bradley’s laboratory to study the impact of arrhythmia and heart failure in congenital heart disease. The laboratory uses multidisciplinary approaches to investigate the structural and electrical components of cardiovascular function in adults surviving congenital heart disease.

Research spans from human to animal, employing novel imaging and electrophysiologic techniques, to name a few.

Successful candidates will employ cell culture skills, cell imaging, and patch clamp techniques as well as small animal echocardiography, murine surgical skills to implant radiotelemetry devices and perform transaortic constriction, monitoring of electrocardiographic data and catecholaminergic stress testing, and basic laboratory techniques including immunoblotting assays, fluorescence imaging, quantitative PCR, gel electrophoresis, and cell culture. Candidates must demonstrate technical and theoretical knowledge of these assays.

The role also requires analysis of data and presentation of results in formal presentations, manuscripts, and grant applications.

• Manage multi-center submission of human subjects data and biologic specimens, including lab management tasks such as ordering, meticulous record keeping, and attention to detail.
• Assist the postdoctoral and predoctoral teams with projects as needed (qPCR, western blot, and other basic lab techniques).
• Prepare human iPSC‑derived cardiomyocytes and perform contraction analyses at rest and in response to medication studies, along with patch clamping techniques and studies.
• Prepare cDNA clones for transfection, dissection and dissociation solutions, and process DNA and protein samples for PCR and western blot assays. Maintain cell line cultures for transfection, transfect cell lines, perform pharmacological assays of transfected cell lines with the microplate reader, and conduct quantitative RT‑PCR assays.
• Independently monitor and oversee animal lines, including maintenance of a transgenic mouse colony, employing gel electrophoresis and PCR techniques, preparing solutions, and other routine lab duties. Analyze and plot data obtained from the assays performed.
• Provide training of other lab staff to ensure that duties above are properly and suitably executed.

This position is an on‑campus role in Hershey, PA.

• Bachelor's Degree with 1+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Required
  
  Certifications:
  
  None.

Employment with the University requires successful completion of background checks in accordance with University policies. Penn State does not sponsor or take over sponsorship of a staff employment Visa; applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S.

Salary range: $40,608.00 – $58,836.00.

• Penn State provides a competitive benefits package for full‑time employees, including comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Robust retirement plans.
• Substantial paid time off, including holidays, vacation, and sick time.
• Generous 75% tuition discount available to employees, spouses, and children.

Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact . Penn State is committed to advancing equity, respect, and belonging, and embraces a culture of belonging that supports all community members to thrive.