Research Specialist B

Ready to help advance the next generation of engineered cell therapies for blood cancers while playing a pivotal role in a leading translational research laboratory? We are seeking an experienced Research Specialist to join a large, collaborative translational research group of ~30 scientists working on engineered cellular therapies for blood cancers, including CAR T cells, CAR macrophages, and gene-edited hematopoietic stem cells. This is a hybrid role, split roughly evenly between in vivo research support and laboratory operations.

Responsibilities

The successful candidate will have responsibilities in two key areas:

In Vivo Research Support (~50%)

• Perform routine mouse procedures, including but not limited to intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and retro-orbital injections; tumor cell and cell-therapy product administration; and compound dosing
• Collect blood by submandibular, retro-orbital, or terminal cardiac puncture; process serum and plasma; aspirate bone marrows
• Perform bioluminescent imaging (IVIS) to track tumor burden and cell trafficking, including luciferin administration, image acquisition, and quantification
• Conduct euthanasia and organ harvest (spleen, bone marrow, liver, lung, blood, tumor), and prepare single-cell suspensions for downstream flow cytometry and molecular analyses
• Monitor animal health and body condition, record clinical observations, and escalate concerns appropriately
• Support colony management in coordination with ULAR: cage census and record keeping
• Maintain meticulous, contemporaneous records in the electronic lab notebook and in study-specific data files
• Work strictly within approved IACUC protocols; assist with protocol amendments, animal ordering, and per-diem tracking

Laboratory Operations (~50%)

• Place and track orders for reagents, consumables, and equipment through Penn Marketplace and preferred vendors; reconcile packing slips, receipts, and invoices
• Maintain inventory of high-use consumables, media, sera, cytokines, and antibodies; establish par levels and reorder points so critical items never run out
• Receive, unpack, log, and appropriately store incoming shipments, including cold-chain and controlled items
• Monitor and maintain cold storage: -80 °C and -20 °C freezers, 4 °C refrigerators, and liquid nitrogen vessels - including temperature logs, alarm response, defrost scheduling, LN2 fills, and coordination of service calls
• Maintain freezer and cryotank inventories and sample-location databases; support periodic cleanouts and consolidation
• Oversee shared equipment: routine maintenance, service contracts, calibration records, and coordination with vendors and core facilities
• Maintain lab safety and compliance: chemical inventory, SDS files, biohazard and sharps waste streams, autoclave use, and EHRS requirements
• Prepare common stock solutions, buffers, and media for shared lab use
• Help onboard and train new lab members on ordering procedures, storage systems, safety practices, and shared equipment
• Assist the Laboratory Manager with space organization, expense tracking, and general day-to-day operations

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, animal science, or a related field
• 1-2 years of hands-on rodent experience, including injections, blood collection, and tissue harvest
• Willingness and ability to work with laboratory mice, including euthanasia and dissection
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and reliable record keeping
• Ability to manage competing requests from multiple investigators and prioritize effectively
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable working as part of a large team
• Proficiency with standard office and data tools (Excel, email, shared drives)
• Ability to work independently and follow through on recurring responsibilities without prompting

Skills

• Experience with tumor xenograft or leukemia models, particularly in immunodeficient strains (NSG or similar)
• Experience with bioluminescent imaging (IVIS), bleeding, injection
• Familiarity with flow cytometry sample preparation or sterile cell culture
• Experience with laboratory purchasing, inventory systems, or electronic lab notebooks (e.g., Benching)
• Previous work in an academic or industry research laboratory

This is a contract position based in Philadelphia, PA, and offers a hybrid work environment.