Research Specialist B/C
Description
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/C
Job Profile Title
Research Specialist B
Job Description Summary
The position will support the advancement of new therapeutics toward the clinic and contribute to the scientific work published from the lab. Its focus will be testing new engineered T cells and evaluating their functional activity, as a single agent or in combination, to enhance therapeutic T cell performance, particularly within tumor microenvironments. Both positions requires solid immunological laboratory skills, including CAR T cell manufacturing, flow cytometry, ELISA, and other in vitro assays, as well as experience with in vivo mouse studies, contributing to efforts to enhance the therapeutic index of these therapies and understand their resulting impacts within the tumor microenvironment.
The primary function of this Research Specialist B position is to conduct in vitro and in vivo mouse studies, and assist with day-to-day operation of the research bench, all within the BRITE (Shobaki) Lab under the direction of Nour Shobaki. The purpose of this position is to support mouse studies by generating and characterizing engineered immune therapeutics, growing and developing tumor cells, performing injections, monitoring animal health, weight, and therapeutic responses, and collecting datasets from the study (tumor growth, therapeutic engraftment, histology, ex vivo assays). This position also documents and organizes experimental data and contributes to the preparation of presentations and research publications, under the guidance of the Principal Investigator.
The primary function of this Research Specialist C position is to independently design, troubleshoot, and carry out in vitro and in vivo mouse studies, maintain the animal colony, and manage day-to-day operation of the research bench, all within the BRITE (Shobaki) Lab under the direction 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, and collecting datasets from the study (tumor growth, therapeutic engraftment, histology, ex vivo assays). This position also generates and organizes the experimental data needed to support grant applications and IND-enabling studies, and contributes written sections to progress reports and manuscripts, with final authorship and submission led by the Principal Investigator.
Job Description
Job Responsibilities Research Specialist B
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Conduct in vitro immunological functional assays, including CAR T cell manufacturing, flow cytometry, and ELISA, following established protocols; troubleshoot experimental issues as they arise
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Conduct in vivo mouse studies, executing established protocols under the direction of the PI
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Prepare tumor cells and engineered immune therapies for in vivo experiments, documenting their characteristics and performing assays to assess functional performance
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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.
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Prepare tissues at necropsy by fixing and isolating cells for functional and flow cytometric analysis, IHC, and spatial transcriptomic studies.
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Document experimental data, perform data analysis, and contribute to the preparation of presentations and research publications under the guidance of the Principal Investigator.
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Participate in lab management and support lab set-up and operations, including ordering, organizing, and maintaining reagents, equipment, and protocols
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Characterize transgenic mice and maintain colony.
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Train and provide guidance to other lab members as needed.
Job Responsibilities Research Specialist C
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Independently design, troubleshoot, and perform in vitro immunological functional assays, including CAR T cell manufacturing, flow cytometry, and ELISA; contribute to development of new methods using state-of-the-art techniques.
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Independently design, troubleshoot, and execute in vivo mouse studies using established protocols, and contribute to development of new protocols under the direction of the lab supervisor
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Modify and prepare tumor cells and engineered immune therapies for in vivo mouse experiments, documenting their characteristics and performing assays defining functional performance.
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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
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Prepare tissues at necropsy by fixing and isolating cells for functional and flow cytometric analysis, IHC, and spatial transcriptomic studies.
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Document experimental data, perform data analysis, generate and organize the data needed to support grant applications and IND-enabling studies, and write sections of manuscripts and progress reports describing research results.
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Provide scientific and technical guidance and mentorship to other lab members and trainees, contributing to research team performance.
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Manage day-to-day research bench operations, including maintaining general lab supplies and reagent inventory, equipment upkeep, and protocol organization
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Characterize transgenic mice and maintain colony.
Position is funded for one year with the possibility of being extended.
Qualifications
Required:
Research Specialist B:
- Bachelor's degree in Immunology, Cell Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or a related field, with 1–2 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, and cell culture
- Exposure to in vivo mouse models, including tumor inoculation, therapeutic administration, or monitoring
- Strong organizational and documentation skills
Research Specialist C:
- Bachelor's degree 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 immunothera