Research Specialist B (Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care) - University of Pennsylvania

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 B (Department of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care)





Job Profile Title

Research Specialist B





Job Description Summary

This Research Specialist position will work on testing the therapeutic efficacy of nanotechnologies for the treatment of acute brain pathologies, including ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain hemorrhagic stroke, and etc. Acute brain pathologies affect over one million Americans each year. There are several challenges to delivering therapeutics to the injured brain. Our lab packages drugs and gene therapy constructs (RNA) into nano-scale carriers (~100 nanometers in diameter), and targets them to the organ and cell types of interest using affinity moieties (e.g., antibodies), cell-hitchhiking, and medical devices. We tested these in mouse models of acute brain disorders, and are moving on to large animal models. We have close collaboration with the Neurology Department at the University of Pennsylvania. We also partner with existing companies and spin out our own start-ups, giving the opportunity to gain experience interacting with industry. The Research Specialist B will perform a broad range of experiments in pharmacology and mouse work. The methods will include animal model development and characterization (animal handling and surgery), pharmacological biodistribution experiments (injecting mice with drugs and harvesting organs to determine drug distribution), therapeutic safety and efficacy assessment (behavior, histology, safety assays, etc). (S)He will also prepare targeted nanocarriers a 10% of the time. The Principal Investigators and current lab personnel will design experiments with the applicant, but the Research Specialist will be expected to troubleshoot these procedures as needed. The Research Specialist will also keep accurate notebooks, perform data analysis, and assist in publication preparation.





Job Description


Job Responsibilities

+ Production of drug-loaded nanocarriers

+ Mouse models of neurovascular inflammation such as stroke, TBI, etc followed by organ harvest, histology preparation and analysis, preparation of flow cytometry of single cells suspensions

+ Pharmacological biodistribution experiments (injecting mice with drugs and harvesting organs to determine drug distribution)

+ Presentations of data (during one-on-one meetings with adviser and during lab meeting)

+ Perform additional duties as assigned






Qualifications



+ BA/BS with 1-3 years of experience in one of the following fields: biology, cell biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology, biomedical engineering or other related fields or equivalent combination of education and experience required. At least 2 experience preferred. We will teach the applicant all the relevant techniques, but experience with animal handling/surgery/behavioral testing/husbandry, histology, flow cytometry, or any combination of the above, is highly desirable.





About the Principal Investigators:


There are 3 co-advisors for this joint program: Oscar Marcos-Contreras is an assistant professor at Penn, where he develops nanomedicine for acute neuro-vascular injuries and inflammation. The lab technician will directly report to Oscar. Vladimir Muzykantov, MD, PhD is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the department of pharmacology, with decades of experience on vascular targeting using engineered proteins and nanomedicine. Jake Brenner, MD, PhD is an assistant professor and attending at the University of Pennsylvania. His nanomedicine lab is developing nanomedicine for acute critical illnesses, such as ARDS, sepsis, and stroke.




The Principal Investigator and senior personnel in the lab primarily design the experiments, but the applicant will be expected to troubleshoot these procedures as needed. The applicant will also keep accurate notebooks, perform data analysis, and assist in publication preparation. Additional duties will include assisting in experimental design, and participating in general laboratory activities such as lab meetings, ordering, and maintenance.






Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine





Pay Range

$37,220.00 - $57,335.40 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.