Research Specialist B

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.

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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

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist B

Job Description Summary

The Corder Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania is seeking a highly motivated, organized, and collaborative Research Specialist to support cutting-edge neuroscience research focused on pain, affective neuroscience, behavior, neural circuits, and neuromodulation. The successful candidate will play a central role in maintaining daily laboratory operations while contributing directly to multiple ongoing research projects involving mouse behavior, in vivo neuroscience techniques, histology, and computationally driven behavioral analysis.

This position is ideal for an individual seeking extensive hands-on experience in modern systems neuroscience and translational neurobiology. The candidate will work closely with graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty members in a fast-paced and highly collaborative research environment.

Primary responsibilities include management of transgenic mouse colonies, animal handling and behavioral support, histological processing, laboratory organization, ordering and inventory management, data collection and record-keeping, and general experimental support across multiple projects. The technician will assist with behavioral assays, tissue processing, microscopy, molecular techniques, and experimental workflows related to neural circuit function and pain-related behaviors.

The successful candidate should be detail-oriented, dependable, technically proficient, and capable of balancing multiple ongoing responsibilities. Strong organizational and communication skills are essential.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• The Research Specialist will support daily operations and ongoing research activities within the Corder Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania. Primary responsibilities include management of transgenic mouse colonies, including setting up breeder cages, monitoring colony health, maintaining accurate animal records, coordinating genotyping workflows, weaning and tagging animals, and ensuring compliance with institutional animal care regulations. The candidate will assist with behavioral neuroscience experiments involving mouse handling, habituation, behavioral testing, spontaneous pain and affective-motivational assays, video recording, and support for automated behavior analysis platforms. Additional duties include performing histological procedures such as tissue collection, perfusions, cryosectioning, immunohistochemistry, slide mounting, microscopy support, and organization of imaging datasets. The Research Specialist will maintain laboratory inventory by ordering reagents, consumables, and animal-related supplies, tracking stock levels, organizing storage areas, and coordinating equipment maintenance and repairs. The position also requires maintaining detailed experimental records and laboratory documentation, assisting with data collection and organization, preparing solutions and reagents, and supporting graduate students and postdoctoral fellows with experimental workflows and troubleshooting. The ideal candidate will be highly organized, dependable, comfortable working independently and within a collaborative team environment, and interested in supporting neuroscience research involving neural circuits, behavior, pain, and neuromodulation.

Qualifications

• Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience, biology, animal science, psychology, or a related scientific discipline and 1-3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required.
• Experience working with laboratory animals, preferably mice.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously in a fast-paced research environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while contributing effectively within a collaborative team.
• Familiarity with laboratory safety procedures and research compliance standards

• Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in a neuroscience or behavioral neuroscience research laboratory.
• Experience with rodent handling, behavioral assays, or animal colony management.
• Familiarity with histological techniques including tissue processing, immunohistochemistry, and microscopy.
• Experience with molecular biology techniques.
• Experience supporting in vivo neuroscience experiments or behavioral data collection.
• Interest in systems neuroscience, pain research, neural circuits, behavior, or computational approaches to behavior
• This position is contingent upon funding.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$50,875.00 - $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, 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 protectedunder 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.

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