Research Specialist B

Proclinical Group; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Proclinical Group in Philadelphia, PA is seeking a Research Specialist B for a contract role in a busy translational lab focused on engineered cellular therapies for blood cancers. The role blends in vivo mouse work with hands-on laboratory operations.

The successful candidate will perform routine mouse procedures, bioluminescent imaging, tissue collection, and contribute to colony management while maintaining precise records and adhering to IACUC protocols.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, animal science, or related field.
• 1-2 years hands-on rodent experience (injections, blood collection, tissue harvest).
• Willingness to work with laboratory mice, including euthanasia and dissection.
• Strong organization, attention to detail, reliable record keeping.
• Ability to manage competing requests from multiple investigators.
• Clear written and verbal communication; team player.
• Proficiency with Excel and basic office tools.
• Ability to work independently and follow through on recurring tasks.

Responsibilities

• Perform mouse procedures including injections and dosing.
• Collect blood and process serum/plasma; harvest tissues.
• Perform bioluminescent imaging (IVIS) and quantify results.
• Prepare single-cell suspensions for flow cytometry.
• Maintain lab inventory, orders, and vendor coordination.
• Support colony management and ULAR coordination.
• Record data in electronic lab notebook and study files.
• Ensure compliance with IACUC protocols and safety.

Skills

Tumor xenograft models

Bioluminescent imaging (IVIS)

Flow cytometry sample prep

Lab purchasing / inventory / ELN

Academic or industry research lab

Education

Bachelor's degree in biology/biochemistry/neuroscience/animal science

Tools

Benching

Job description

Research Specialist B - Contract - Philadelphia, PA

Ready to help advance the next generation of engineered cell therapies for blood cancers while playing a pivotal role in a leading translational research laboratory?

Proclinical is seeking an experienced Research Specialist to join a large, collaborative translational research group of ~30 scientists working on engineered cellular therapies for blood cancers, including CAR T cells, CAR macrophages, and gene-edited hematopoietic stem cells.
This is a hybrid role, split roughly evenly between two functions:

Primary Responsibilities:

The successful candidate is someone with hands-on rodent experience who is seeking a stable, central role in a busy academic laboratory, including candidates building research experience before applying to graduate or medical school. Training will be provided on lab-specific models, imaging workflows, and operational systems.

Skills & Requirements:

• Experience with tumor xenograft or leukemia models, particularly in immunodeficient strains (NSG or similar)
• Experience with bioluminescent imaging (IVIS), bleeding, injection
• Familiarity with flow cytometry sample preparation or sterile cell culture
• Experience with laboratory purchasing, inventory systems, or electronic lab notebooks (e.g., Benching)
• Previous work in an academic or industry research laboratory

The Research Specialist B's responsibilities will be:

In Vivo Research Support (~50%)

• Perform routine mouse procedures, including but not limited to intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, and retro-orbital injections; tumor cell and cell-therapy product administration; and compound dosing
• Collect blood by submandibular, retro-orbital, or terminal cardiac puncture; process serum and plasma; aspirate bone marrows
• Perform bioluminescent imaging (IVIS) to track tumor burden and cell trafficking, including luciferin administration, image acquisition, and quantification
• Conduct euthanasia and organ harvest (spleen, bone marrow, liver, lung, blood, tumor), and prepare single-cell suspensions for downstream flow cytometry and molecular analyses
• Monitor animal health and body condition, record clinical observations, and elevate concerns appropriately
• Support colony management in coordination with ULAR: cage census and record keeping
• Maintain meticulous, contemporaneous records in the electronic lab notebook and in study-specific data files
• Work strictly within approved IACUC protocols; assist with protocol amendments, animal ordering, and per-diem tracking

Laboratory Operations (~50%)

• Place and track orders for reagents, consumables, and equipment through Penn Marketplace and preferred vendors; reconcile packing slips, receipts, and invoices
• Maintain inventory of high-use consumables, media, sera, cytokines, and antibodies; establish par levels and reorder points so critical items never run out
• Receive, unpack, log, and appropriately store incoming shipments, including cold-chain and controlled items
• Monitor and maintain cold storage: ?80 °C and ?20 °C freezers, 4 °C refrigerators, and liquid nitrogen vessels - including temperature logs, alarm response, defrost scheduling, LN2 fills, and coordination of service calls
• Maintain freezer and cryotank inventories and sample-location databases; support periodic cleanouts and consolidation
• Oversee shared equipment: routine maintenance, service contracts, calibration records, and coordination with vendors and core facilities
• Maintain lab safety and compliance: chemical inventory, SDS files, biohazard and sharps waste streams, autoclave use, and EHRS requirements
• Prepare common stock solutions, buffers, and media for shared lab use
• Help onboard and train new lab members on ordering procedures, storage systems, safety practices, and shared equipment
• Assist the Laboratory Manager with space organization, expense tracking, and general day-to-day operations

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in biology, biochemistry, neuroscience, animal science, or a related field
• 1-2 years of hands-on rodent experience, including injections, blood collection, and tissue harvest
• Willingness and ability to work with laboratory mice, including euthanasia and dissection
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and reliable record keeping
• Ability to manage competing requests from multiple investigators and prioritize effectively
• Clear written and verbal communication; comfortable working as part of a large team
• Proficiency with standard office and data tools (Excel, email, shared drives)
• Ability to work independently and follow through on recurring responsibilities without prompting