Senior Research Investigator (Pathobiology)
University of Pennsylvania

University OverviewThe 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 TitleSenior Research Investigator (Pathobiology)Job Profile TitleResearch Investigator, SeniorJob Description SummaryThis leadership role within the lab oversees and designs advanced experiments. The appropriate individual will assist the principal investigator and play a leading role in developing a research program in the advancement of innate immunity to enteric bacterial infection and will play a crucial role in development, implementation, and data analysis of studies in the lab. The role will involve mentoring of trainees in the lab, assistance with grant submission and writing of manuscripts, assess proposed projects by conducting feasibility studies to provide valuable input regarding viability, efficiency, timeline, and study design. In the implementation stage, this role will supervise and perform the project. This includes overseeing workflow and productivity of lab personnel and providing training to them on specific techniques, as necessary. Responsible for data analysis, preparation of manuscripts, and presenting research findings through various forumsJob Description

Job Responsibilities

• Prepare manuscripts or reviews for publication, from drafting, submission to peer-reviewed journals and through peer review response process, to acceptance for publication and final proofs.
• Under the direction and approval of the supervisor, conceive, plan, and perform experiments to examine innate immune responses to bacterial infection.
• With guidance from the Supervisor, prepare grant materials to secure funding from NIH or other private agencies.
• Analyze and visualize data and determine potential use as preliminary data in grant proposals or for publication.
• Provide guidance and training in specific experimental techniques to junior lab members as needed.
• Contribute to maintenance of regular laboratory operations (e.g. animal colony maintenance, ordering supplies, equipment maintenance/purchases, etc.)

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, and 5 to 7 years of postdoctoral experience is required. 10 years of experience preferred.

• Extensive experience using behavioral testing paradigms in mouse to evaluate pain and/or itch in multiple parts of the body including reflexive withdrawal methods such as Hargreaves, operant assessment paradigms, conditioned place preference/aversion, and use of optogenetic methods to manipulate behavior in transgenic mice.
• Experience with targeted delivery of drugs to the trigeminal nerve (including whisker pad injection, perineural injection, or delivery into the cisterna magna) and the hindpaw.
• Experience with neuronal culture and calcium imaging, histology, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, qPCR, and ELISA
• Experience with transgenic mouse lines to study neuro-immune interactions, including maintenance of breeding colonies (e.g. appropriate breeding schemes, genotyping, experience with tamoxifen-inducible cre lines).
• Demonstrated mentorship of students and junior lab members
• Experience drafting, editing, and submitting original research manuscripts and reviews to peer-reviewed scientific journals, as well as responding to reviewer comments and returning revised submissions for publication.
• Experience in writing and revising grant submissions

This position is contingent upon grant funding.

Job Location - City, StatePhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaDepartment / SchoolSchool of Veterinary MedicinePay Range$43,888.00 - $91,000.00 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, 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.

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

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