Research Assistant – Escolano Lab

The Wistar Institute; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Excellent benefits package

Job summary

The Wistar Institute is seeking a highly motivated Research Assistant to join Dr. Amelia Escolano’s lab in Philadelphia. The role involves antibody cloning, production, and providing technical assistance in molecular biology experiments.

Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field and strong motivation to work collaboratively. The position offers competitive salary and excellent benefits in a cutting-edge research environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Excellent communication and organization skills.
• Motivated to learn and work collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Antibody cloning, production and characterization.
• Protein production and purification.
• Assist in molecular and cellular biology experiments.

Skills

Antibody cloning

Protein production

Molecular biology

Flow cytometry

Cell culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field

Tools

PCR

DNA cloning

ELISA

Job description

The Wistar Institute, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Job Description

Posted Thursday, May 28, 2026 at 4:00 AM

The Wistar Institute has an opening for a highly motivated Research Assistant to work in the laboratory of Dr. Amelia Escolano in the Vaccine & Immunotherapy Center. The Escolano lab is interested in vaccine design, and in the analysis of the humoral and cellular immune responses to vaccination and infection. Using HIV-1 as a model, and a combination of cutting‑edge approaches and different animal models, the Escolano lab investigates the mechanisms governing the B‑cell and antibody responses to novel forms of vaccination, aiming to define general guidelines for the design of efficacious vaccines against highly mutating pathogens, cancer‑associated viruses and bacteria.

The responsibilities of successful candidates will involve:

• Antibody cloning, production and characterization
• Protein production and purification
• Technical assistance to post‑doctoral and pre‑doctoral students with molecular and cellular biology experiments, and in animal studies.

Bachelor’s degree in a science‑related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience, is required. Excellent communication and organization skills are essential. Candidates will receive personalized training as required. Competitive applicants will have strong motivation to learn and to work in a collaborative environment. Experience in the following areas is preferred: structural biology, antibody and protein production, cell culture, flow cytometry, serological characterization, molecular biology (PCR, DNA cloning, ELISA), virus production and/or next‑generation sequencing.

The Wistar Institute is located in the University City area of Philadelphia, in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania Campus. Wistar provides resources to its faculty and staff that enable them to conduct cutting‑edge collaborative research and provides for outstanding intellectual environments and state‑of‑the‑art facilities.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package.

It is the policy of the Institute to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, citizenship, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), pregnancy, caregiver status, domestic or sexual violence victim status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or on the basis of genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, with respect to all terms and conditions of employment.