Research Specialist A (Department of Cardiovascular Medicine)

University of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 44,000 - 58,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in education and research is seeking a Research Specialist to support innovative heart and vascular studies. This role involves coordinating research activities, consenting patients, and managing biological samples. The ideal candidate will work closely with leading researchers in a collaborative environment, contributing to groundbreaking projects that enhance clinical understanding and patient care. With a commitment to professional development and a supportive workplace culture, this opportunity is perfect for those passionate about advancing medical research and making a tangible impact in the field.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Tuition Assistance

Retirement Plans

Flexible Work Hours

Professional Development

Wellness Programs

Long-Term Care Insurance

Adoption Assistance

Discounts and Special Services

Time Away from Work

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field is required.
• 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Responsibilities

• Consent patients for research studies and collect heart tissue specimens.
• Maintain study protocols and manage regulatory documentation.
• Record information in an anonymized research database.

Skills

Patient Consent

Data Collection

Inventory Management

Regulatory Compliance

Education

Bachelor of Science

Laboratory Experience

Tools

Research Database

Biobank Inventory System

Job description

Research Specialist A (Department of Cardiovascular Medicine)

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.

Posted Job Title
Research Specialist A (Department of Cardiovascular Medicine)

Job Profile Title
Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary
The Research Specialist role for the Perelman School of Medicine Division of Cardiology will coordinate activities between the laboratories of Dr. Zoltan Arany MD., PhD. (Penn Medicine), and Dr. Kenneth Margulies MD (Penn Medicine). The role is to facilitate IRB-approved translational heart and vascular research studies. The individual will work closely with Principal Investigators and associated researchers on several active projects. Projects are in advanced heart failure, vascular disease, neurointerventional radiology, cardio-obstetrics and electrophysiology. The Research Specialist will collaborate with clinical cardiovascular research teams at Penn and CHOP.

The role of the Research Specialist will be to consent patients for research studies and collect and process 1) surgically explanted heart tissue specimens from patients undergoing cardiac surgery and transplantation; and 2) blood obtained during inpatient and outpatient procedures and clinic visits. They will catalogue specimens using existing inventory management systems. The research specialist will assist in management of clinical information pertaining to research specimens, and collating and overseeing regulatory documentation. Overall, the Research Specialist will be exposed to numerous aspects of clinical and pre-clinical research in a preeminent health system.

Job Responsibilities

• Identifying and consenting patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery, electrophysiology procedures, neurointerventional radiology procedures, cardio-obstetric related outpatient clinic visits, or research only related clinic visits for research studies.
• Collection, processing, storage, and inventory of heart tissue collected for biobank specimens from research participants from the operation room, procedural suites, and outpatient clinics.
• Recording relevant information in an anonymized research database that is directly associated with the attributable study.
• Creating collection kits for the collection of research participant specimens.
• Prepare biological samples (including blood and tissue specimens) from the biobank for research use by internal and external collaborators.
• Maintain study protocols, all study records and appropriate study regulatory files for each study, and interface with regulatory bodies as needed (eg IRB).
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. (Bachelor's Degree in a relevant field (biology, chemistry, genetics, etc.) and 1-2 years of laboratory experience preferred.)

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range
$44,500.00 - $57,600.00 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, 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 protected under 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.

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

Equal Employment 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 protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.

To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/Smilow-Center-for-Translational/Research-Specialist-A--Department-of-Cardiovascular-Medicine-_JR00104756-1