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/ Research Specialist B - CRISPR Immune Systems, Penn Biology
Job Profile Title
Research Specialist A
Job Description Summary
The Santiago-Frangos lab seeks a motivated and enthusiastic scientist to work in a multidisciplinary team on cutting edge research that determines how bacterial immune systems (e.g. CRISPR) function and that repurposes these mechanistic insights for biotech applications. More information about our science can be found at https://web.sas.upenn.edu/sanfrango-lab/. The Research Specialist will be eager to engage in independent and collaborative research projects in the areas of biochemistry, structural biology, microbiology, and may involve work with yeast and/or mammalian cell culture. The selected candidate will gain knowledge in experimental design, execution and analysis under the guidance of the Principal Investigator. Previous undergraduate mentees have been awarded the national Goldwater Scholarship and have gained admission to top PhD and MD/PhD programs (Berkely, Washington University School of Medicine). The research specialist will work in an environment that is team oriented, with creative and enthusiastic scientists. The candidate will undertake several administrative duties in the lab but is expected to dedicate 80% of their time towards research.
Job Description
Here in the Department of Biology in the School of Arts and Sciences, we are building upon our internationally recognized research and education program to meet the goals of preparing students and discovering knowledge. Our department includes all basic biological sciences including ecology and evolution, plant sciences, molecular and cellular biology, genomics, quantitative biology, and neuroscience. We value interdisciplinary collaboration and collegiality, and strive to integrate biology across scales, from molecules to social assemblies; across technologies, from nanoengineering to robotic vision; and across approaches, from laboratory experiments to data modeling; to transcend the traditional boundaries of biological studies.
As a community, the Department of Biology is comprised of 35 faculty members, 40 postdoctoral scientists, over 50 graduate students and around 250 undergraduate students. We are located on the south end of UPenn’s campus in the Life Sciences Quad, which is comprised of Carolyn Lynch Labs, Goddard Labs, the historic Leidy Labs, and the new Levin Building. These buildings all surround the scenic and iconic BioPond and James G. Kaskey Memorial Park.
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.
Responsibilities:

Research Specialists at either the A or B level will support a broad range of experimental and laboratory functions including:

• Design, troubleshoot, and carry out experiments (e.g., PCR; protein expression & purification using affinity, ion exchange, hydrophobicity or IMAC chromatography; in vitro activity assays with new enzymes; analyze fluorescent reactions separated on polyacrylamide gels; cryo-EM sample preparation; cryo-EM data analysis; phage plaque assays).
• Data analysis and presentations. Generate figures and progress reports describing research results.
• Keep a detailed Electronic Lab Notebook.
• Training and management of incoming lab members as needed.
• Purchasing for the lab, equipment service & maintenance, lab maintenance and organization, lab cleaning, monitor supplies. Cleaning and autoclaving laboratory glassware. Maintain lab stocks and edit lab database information.
• Stay up to date on relevant literature.
• Assisting with generating SOP protocols and lab records; oversee biosafety, fire safety, chemical safety and additional safety protocols.
• Shipping/receiving stocks and reagents - liaison with collaborators.

At the Research Specialist B level, individuals will carry out the above duties with greater independence and technical expertise and will additionally:

• Independently troubleshoot experimental issues and lead complex experimental design.
• Contribute more substantially to data interpretation, and writing sections of manuscripts.
• Take the lead in training and mentoring junior lab members.
• Oversee lab safety and compliance more directly and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Manage communications and logistics with collaborators and vendors with minimal oversight.

Qualifications:

Research Specialist A:

• Bachelor of Science and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Prior experience in either protein biochemistry, protein purification or structural biology is preferred.
• Can work independently, and well with others, has strong communication skills (verbal and written).
• Strong multitasking abilities and an extremely high-level of reliability and dependability.
• Excellent organizational record keeping skills are required.

Research Specialist B:

• Bachelor’s degree in a scientific field and 1 to 3 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Demonstrated expertise in protein biochemistry, purification, or structural biology.
• Proven ability to independently plan, execute, and troubleshoot experiments, lead aspects of lab operations, and contribute significantly to manuscripts and project development.

This is a one-year term position with a possibility of renewal based on funding.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
School of Arts and Sciences
Pay Range
$44,500.00 - $58,000.00 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, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.
Special Requirements
Background checks may be 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.

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

• Independently troubleshoot experimental issues and lead complex experimental design.
• Contribute more substantially to data interpretation, and writing sections of manuscripts.
• Take the lead in training and mentoring junior lab members.
• Oversee lab safety and compliance more directly and develop standard operating procedures (SOPs).
• Manage communications and logistics with collaborators and vendors with minimal oversight