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.

COVID-19 vaccination or a University authorized exemption is a requirement for all positions at the University of Pennsylvania. For more information about Penn’s vaccine requirements, visit the Penn COVID-19 Response website for the latest information. 

Posted Job Title

Research Specialist A, Department of Biology - Betley Lab

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary

The goal of the Betley Lab is to elucidate the organization of neural circuits that determine feeding behavior. We use state-of-the-art techniques to observe and manipulate specific neural populations during feeding in physiological and pathological conditions (e.g., obesity).

Job Description

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, we are 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. We welcome all who are interested in biology to connect with us – whether it’s by taking a stroll through Kaskey Park, enrolling in a biology course at Penn, attending a seminar, or attending a professional development session for secondary school biology teachers. I also invite you to explore our website to learn more about our undergraduate and graduate opportunities, and the community we build within our department. Whether it is online or in person, we are excited to connect with you so that together we can investigate life in the context of an ever-changing natural world.

The group is now looking to hire a new research specialist to join the lab. With close supervision by senior researchers and the PI, this individual will assist with conducting rodent surgery,  in vivo calcium imaging, optogenetic, behavioral experiments,  molecular analysis of intracellular signaling pathways, data organization, and analyzing results (using spreadsheets, data visualization, and statistical packages) to meet research project objectives. This team member will collaborate within the laboratory to perform experiments that align with the lab’s overall goals and objectives. Other duties will include daily management of laboratory inventory, operations, and animal colonies to ensure regulatory compliance and timely completion of project deliverables. The final candidate will be expected to closely collaborate with graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and Principal Investigator (PI) on experimental work setups in accordance with established protocols. This position, at times, will also oversee the activities of undergraduate students, participate in scientific discussions about experimental design, and interpret results.  The “training” nature of this position provides a great opportunity for potential candidates that strive to develop and master new skills and seek to strengthen their applications related to medical/vet school career goals and/or graduate school in Neuroscience/feeding by having the opportunity to be a co-author on published research papers.

Job Responsibilities

• Conduct and or assist in behavioral and physiological testing

• Analyze data, interpret and communicate results

• Assist or conduct rodent surgery

• Manage laboratory reagent upkeep

• Manage laboratory animal resources

• Ensure regulatory compliance

• Train laboratory staff

• Coordinate activities of undergraduate assistants

• Perform additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree with 0 to 1 year of experience in research and clinical study methodologies

• Comfortable working with rodents/handling rodents

• Prior experience working in a laboratory setting

• Good organizational skills

• Ability to work with teammates.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Arts and Sciences

Pay Range

$36,368.00 - $50,522.66

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