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 Employers By State in 2021.

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.

COVID-19 vaccination is a requirement for all positions at the University of Pennsylvania. New hires are expected to be fully vaccinated before beginning work at the University. For more information about Penn’s vaccine requirements, visit the Penn COVID-19 Response website for the latest information. 

Posted Job Title

Research Specialist D (Department of Surgery & Radiology)

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist D

Job Description Summary

This Research Specialist D position will be a dual appointment within the Departments of Surgery and Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania.
The successful candidate for this position will collaborate with the Dr. Bermudez in the Department of Surgery to design, conduct, analyze and publish independent basic research in lung and heart perfusion techniques and translational science. They will work independently to manage daily research projects, data collection and organization of the laboratory, and will be responsible for setting-up the organ perfusion systems and perform organ assessment under the supervision and direction of Dr. Bermudez. He/she must be able to identify and resolve technical problems and use analytical and decision-making skills to implement assigned projects. He/she will be largely responsible for coordinating the collection, analysis and presentation of data. He/she should be comfortable with most basic science techniques, including animal work, and should have adequate surgical skills to complete the experiments.
In addition to the duties above for Dr. Bermudez, this position with have the responsibility to coordinate translational and basic research projects in collaboration with Dr. Rizi’s lab in the Department of Radiology. Here, he/she will take the lead in an ongoing study focused on unilateral lung transplantation in a rodent model. They will perform duties including but not limited to: animal transport to and from the animal housing facility, tail vein injection and intubation, lung transplant, extracorporeal organ perfusion, implementation of a small animal brain death model and EEG monitoring, as well as post-operative animal care and CT imaging.
Finally, this Research Specialist D will maintain meticulous laboratory notes. He/she will be expected to take a project leadership role and will be required to analyze and present data at meetings as well as contribute to writing manuscripts. This individual will train and supervise staff, interface with existing postdoctoral fellows and students in the lab.
Position is contingent upon continued grant funding.

Job Description

This Research Specialist D position will be a dual appointment within the Departments of Surgery and Radiology at the University of Pennsylvania.
The successful candidate for this position will collaborate with the Dr. Bermudez in the Department of Surgery to design, conduct, analyze and publish independent basic research in lung and heart perfusion techniques and translational science. They will work independently to manage daily research projects, data collection and organization of the laboratory, and will be responsible for setting-up the organ perfusion systems and perform organ assessment under the supervision and direction of Dr. Bermudez. He/she must be able to identify and resolve technical problems and use analytical and decision-making skills to implement assigned projects. He/she will be largely responsible for coordinating the collection, analysis and presentation of data. He/she should be comfortable with most basic science techniques, including animal work, and should have adequate surgical skills to complete the experiments.

In addition to the duties above for Dr. Bermudez, this position with have the responsibility to coordinate translational and basic research projects in collaboration with Dr. Rizi’s lab in the Department of Radiology. Here, he/she will take the lead in an ongoing study focused on unilateral lung transplantation in a rodent model. They will perform duties including but not limited to: animal transport to and from the animal housing facility, tail vein injection and intubation, lung transplant, extracorporeal organ perfusion, implementation of a small animal brain death model and EEG monitoring, as well as post-operative animal care and CT imaging. 

Finally, this Research Specialist D will maintain meticulous laboratory notes. He/she will be expected to take a project leadership role and will be required to analyze and present data at meetings as well as contribute to writing manuscripts. This individual will train and supervise staff, interface with existing postdoctoral fellows and students in the lab.

Position is contingent upon continued grant funding.

Qualifications:

Master’s Degree and 5 years to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Must also have a strong research background, as well as experience with research design and analysis; specific experience with research in the molecular imaging is also required, as well as experience in performing complex surgical procedures in both clinical and preclinical settings. Should be highly organized and task oriented. Excellent communication skills and the ability to work well both independently and as part of a team are also of paramount importance.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$51,824.00 - $78,096.00

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