Research Specialist A/B - Epidemiology Division

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Job Description Summary

The Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Informatics (DBEI) and the Antimicrobial Resistance, Healthcare Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Stewardship (ARES) Research Collaborative at the University of Pennsylvania seeks a full-time Clinical Research Specialist (RS-A/B). The candidate will serve as the primary laboratory technician for the PI.

The Research Specialist will serve as the primary technician on multiple research studies. Position duties include: specimen processing, culturing bacteria, reagent and media preparation, organization and storage of bacterial isolates, biobanking, and participation as part of a research team. Position will potentially oversee work-study students and part-time laboratory technicians. This position is for 1-2 years with possible extension based on funding.

The Research Specialist B will perform all above duties and will oversee work-study students and part-time laboratory technicians.

Job Responsibilities

• Specimen Processing: Perform techniques for sample processing (plating bacterial cultures, pipetting, vortexing, aliquot, and centrifugation) of human and environmental samples for identification of bacterial colonies; specimens can include anatomic samples (e.g., stool, urine, skin, respiratory) as well as environmental samples.
• Bacterial Storage & Library: use LabVantage lab inventory system to maintain organization of isolates and DNA collections. Preparing cell lysate cultures and organizing them for submission for whole genome sequencing.
• General laboratory duties including: recording results and methods in a daily lab notebook, data collection forms, REDCap database, and an Excel spreadsheet; reagent preparation, ordering supplies, basic lab cleaning, quality control, and maintenance.
• Bacterial Culturing Methods: Maintenance of bacteria, preparing culture liquid and solid culture media, isolation of pure colonies from mixed cultures, subculturing, freezing isolates for storage.
• Attend regular meetings with Penn team and collaborators and provide regular status reports.
• Perform bacterial growth rate and phenotypic assays using an automated plate reader.
• Biobanking: Organization and collection of isolates from the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory weekly or overseeing/working with student employee in this task. Maintaining list of biobanked isolates.
• Potentially perform molecular techniques including: PCR, DNA isolation from bacteria, restriction enzyme digestion, gel electrophoresis, DNA amplification by the polymerase chain reaction, and DNA preps
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree with related experience working in biology or microbiology research; ability to communicate & teach, strong organizational skills, time management, proficiency in microbiological techniques (obtaining pure culture, subculturing, freezing isolates); familiarity with Microsoft Office applications; REDCap and LabVantage experience preferred. This position may require flexibility to work evenings/nights/weekends.

Research Specialist-A: Bachelor of Science and 0 to 1 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Research Specialist-B: Bachelor of Science and 1 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Master's Degree and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is PREFERRED.