Research Specialist A​/B

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 A/B

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary

The Research Specialist A/B will join the Integrative Immunology & Cell Design Laboratory, led by Dr. Mo Haj-Dezfulian at the University of Pennsylvania.

The Research Specialist A/B will support experimental workflows involving mammalian and primary immune-cell culture, T cell receptor cloning and expression, antigen-presentation assays, pooled genetic and antigen-discovery screens, flow cytometry, cell sorting, next-generation sequencing library preparation, single-cell sequencing, and spatial genomic assays. The position will also support laboratory operations, including reagent preparation, sample organization, inventory management, equipment maintenance, SOP/ELN documentation, sample tracking, sequencing/library tracking, and coordination of routine experimental workflows.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities:

The Research Specialist A role is intended for a candidate with foundational researchexperience who will perform routine and moderately complex laboratory procedures under close supervision. The RSA will assist with molecular biology, mammalian cell culture, flowcytometry sample preparation, sequencing library preparation, single-cell sequencing sample preparation, pooled screening workflows, sample tracking, documentation, and generallaboratory support.

In addition to the duties above, the Research Specialist B will be expected to work with greaterscientific and technical independence. The RSB will contribute to experimental design, protocoloptimization, troubleshooting, execution of complex multi-step assays, analysis andinterpretation of experimental data, preparation of figures and research summaries, developmentor refinement of SOPs, and training of junior lab members. The RSB may independentlycoordinate established workflows involving primary human immune cells, engineered antigenpresenting cells, TCR-expressing reporter cells, pooled antigen or CRISPR screens, nextgenerationsequencing, single-cell sequencing, and spatial genomics.

The position is well suited for candidates who have recently graduated, or are soon to graduate,and are looking for a meaningful next step before applying to medical school, a PhD program,MD-PhD training, or a longer-term research career. The ideal candidate will have strong interest in immunology, antigen presentation, T cell biology, genomics, molecular biology, or cell engineering, and will be expected to contribute to research summaries, figures, posters,manuscripts, grant reports, lab meetings, project meetings, and, when appropriate, departmentalor external scientific meetings.

Qualifications:

Research Specialist A - Bachelor of Science and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Research Specialist B - Bachelor of Science and 1 to 2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Additional Qualifications:

- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and careful record-keeping.

- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a research laboratory.

- Interest in cancer immunology, autoimmunity, T-cell biology, genomics, cell engineering, or related areas of biomedical research.

Experience with flow cytometry, primary immune-cell culture, single-cell genomics,spatial profiling, or CRISPR-based screening.

- Familiarity with T-cell biology, antigen presentation, cancer immunology, autoimmunity,or immune-repertoire analysis.

- Basic computational skills, such as R or Python, for data QC, plotting, or…