Research Specialist A/B (Department of Dermatology) - University of Pennsylvania

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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.




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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 (Department of Dermatology)





Job Profile Title

Research Specialist A





Job Description Summary

This Research Specialist (A or B depending on experience) will provide critical laboratory and technical support for the Penn Skin Biology and Diseases Resource-based Center (SBDRC) and general departmental research operations. The incumbent will report to the Associate Director of Basic Research Donna Brennan-Crispi, PhD, and be part of a team that includes SBDRC technical directors and service providers.


The incumbent will assist with various lab management tasks (e.g. ordering, equipment maintenance, sample procurement), histological specimen processing, experimental techniques (e.g. immunostaining, cell culture, sample preparation) to assist with SBDRC Core operations and provide critical services to members. They will train directly with core technical directors and service providers.


Basic lab experience, through coursework or work experience, is required. Experience with histological preparation, cell culture, and/or immunostaining techniques is a highly desired.





Job Description




Job Responsibilities



+ General Lab management duties for SBDRC cores and Dermatology Department– ordering, reagent preparation, equipment maintenance, etc.


+ CPAT core support – sample processing, FFPE slide preparation, histochemical staining, cryo sample, immunostaining, etc.


+ STaR core support – Cell culture, human skin sample procurement and preparation, Penn Derm BioBank support, etc.


+ A ssorted administrative duties – assist with regulatory/compliance paperwork, protocol management, Department and SBDRC recordkeeping, etc


+ Perform additional duties as assigned





Duties


We are looking for a highly motivated individual interested basic and translational research who will provide key research lab support within the Department of Dermatology. This full-time staff member will be a member of the Penn Skin Biology and Disease Recourses-based Center (SBDRC) technical team. The SBDRC provides a wide range of services to basic, translational and clinical researchers. The Research Specialist will support basic and translational researchers by providing key services primarily through the Skin Translational Research (STaR) and Cutaneous Phenomics and Transcriptomics (CPAT) Cores. The primary duties will include, but are not limited to:


Research Specialist A



+ Responsible for providing basic laboratory technical support for the SBDRC Resource Cores and Department of Dermatology, including managing purchases, processing deliveries, preparing reagents, and maintaining lab logs and documentation, including those for Environmental Health and Safety (EHRS)


+ Complete routine maintenance on SBDRC and departmental equipment and train researchers on proper use


+ Assist with, and learn to perform independently, histopathological preparation of tissue samples, including tissue trimming, processing, embedding, high-quality sectioning, and histochemical staining on both fixed and fresh frozen samples


+ Conduct immunohistochemical staining, image acquisition, basic analysis as needed, and document results


+ Perform basic cell culture, including reagent preparation, initiation of primary skin cell cultures, and preparation of cells and cell culture products for delivery to researchers


+ Support the Penn Dermatology BioBank by working with SBDRC, Clinical Studies Unit (CSU), and Mohs surgical teams to collect, prepare, and log samples as per protocols


+ Learn REDCap and other platforms utilized by the department and cores, perform data entry, and generate relevant reports as needed


+ Collect tissues from clinical sites and prepare for use by core or distribute to researchers as directed


+ Interact with researchers to discuss requests and ensure quality services are provided and meet research needs


+ Demonstrate vigilance in laboratory safety, protocol compliance, experimental data and quality, and protection of patient information


+ Participate in core operations meetings, ongoing trainings and professional development


+ Perform general administrative duties to support the SBDRC and Department of Dermatology


+ Safely and ethically perform duties, by adhering to all University of Pennsylvania, IRB, HIPAA, EHRS, and other relevant rules and guidelines





Research Specialist B



+ Perform all duties as listed above with less supervision from SBDRC technical Staff (Director of SBDRC Operations, Core technical directors and managers)


+ In addition to the above, the person will be expected to bring research experience from prior work in a research lab or core, and perform laboratory management tasks, histopathological processing, cell culture, and other experiments autonomously





Qualifications


Research Specialist A - Bachelors degree in the life sciences including laboratory course work and 0-1 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required.


Research Specialist B - Bachelors degree in the life sciences including laboratory course work and 1-2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required.




Ability to perform basic laboratory procedures and histopathological processing is required. Training will be provided if there is no previous experience. Prior research experience and familiarity with a laboratory environment (outside of course work) is highly desirable. Experience with Microsoft Office is required and experience with REDCap is a plus is a plus. In addition, the Research Specialist needs to be able to work as part of a multi-functional team as well as independently complete tasks. They will need to be highly organized, demonstrate attention to detail, possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills, effectively manage time, provide quality research products (e.g. slides, immunostaining, cell cultures, etc.), and be willing to seek guidance and accept constructive feedback as necessary.






This position is contingent upon funding.








Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine





Pay Range

$43,888.00 - $60,000.00 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, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.




Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check 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.




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



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.