Research Specialist D

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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 D

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist D

Job Description Summary

The Breast Cancer Translational Research Group seeks a Research Specialist D to lead our translational research program involving bench to bedside investigations. This scientist will serve as the Laboratory Manager and Quantitative Imaging Lead. They will independently design experiments, analyze and interpret data, and write scientific manuscripts while overseeing daily laboratory operations and mentoring all laboratory personnel.



A major component of this position is hands-on quantitative analysis of small-animal imaging studies evaluating novel radiotracers, including image processing, kinetic modeling, and longitudinal assessment of treatment response. The individual will manage large research datasets, perform statistical analyses, and develop reproducible computational workflows. They must be able to interact with the EHR. Working directly with the principal investigator, this person will coordinate research activities across the laboratory and meet weekly with each laboratory member to review raw data, assess progress, troubleshoot problems, and establish next steps.

Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Independent Experimental Design and Scientific Writing
  • Independently develop experimental designs and detailed study protocols, including hypotheses, appropriate controls, quantitative endpoints, and analysis plans for animal imaging, radiotracer characterization, and translational breast cancer studies.
  • Independently analyze and interpret experimental findings, select and validate analytical methods, evaluate statistical and biological significance, and design follow-up experiments.
  • Independently prepare complete scientific manuscript drafts, including methods, results, discussion, figures, and tables; coordinate coauthor input and prepare revisions and responses to peer reviewers.
  • Prepare abstracts, presentations, and research summaries, and contribute scientific content and preliminary data to grant applications and progress reports.
• Animal Image Analysis, Radiotracer Kinetics, and Computational Modeling
  • Lead quantitative analysis of static and dynamic small-animal PET and PET/CT studies evaluating novel radiotracers in breast cancer models, including patient-derived xenografts and other mouse tumor models.
  • Perform three-dimensional image registration, tumor and organ segmentation, longitudinal volume-of-interest tracking, and extraction of tissue and blood-pool time–activity curves.
  • Quantify tumor uptake, normal-organ distribution, tracer clearance, tumor-to-background ratios, and changes across serial imaging studies and treatment conditions.
  • Develop and implement radiotracer compartmental models using systems of ordinary differential equations, constrained nonlinear optimization, and weighted least-squares parameter estimation.
  • Estimate radiotracer transport and binding parameters, including K₁, k₂, k₃, and k₄, and derive total distribution volume and distribution volume ratios when supported by the selected model and tracer biology.
  • Apply and compare compartmental, Logan graphical, and reference-tissue methods. Evaluate model assumptions, parameter identifiability, residual structure, and goodness of fit using appropriate model-selection criteria.
  • Construct and validate image-derived input functions, incorporating corrections for plasma-to-whole-blood partitioning, radio metabolites, vascular contribution, and input-function delay and dispersion as appropriate.
  • Evaluate and correct sources of quantitative imaging error, including partial-volume effects, spill-in and spill-out, motion, image misregistration, and differences in spatial resolution or reconstruction settings.
  • Perform parameter sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations to characterize estimation bias, precision, and robustness to measurement noise. Use these analyses to guide dynamic framing, acquisition duration, and selection of quantitative imaging endpoints.
  • Assess how segmentation variability, image noise, input-function uncertainty, and model assumptions propagate into estimates of radiotracer uptake and kinetic parameters.
  • Develop reproducible computational workflows for batch processing large animal imaging datasets, including image resampling, coordinate transformations, automated quality checks, metadata validation, and extraction of quantitative features.
  • Integrate animal imaging measurements with ex vivo biodistribution, autoradiography, immunofluorescence, histology, and other tissue assays to evaluate radiotracer behavior, target specificity, and biological validity.
• Laboratory Leadership and Mentoring
  • Oversee daily scientific and operational activities across the laboratory, coordinating personnel, study schedules, equipment, supplies, and shared resources.
  • Mentor all laboratory research personnel and trainees in experimental design, quantitative methods, data interpretation, scientific writing, and presentation of results.
  • Meet individually with each laboratory member every week to review raw data, laboratory records, analyses, and figures; identify technical problems and establish specific plans for the following week.
  • Review the technical validity, completeness, and reproducibility of experimental results and analytical workflows across laboratory projects.
  • Coordinate progress across animal, cell culture, imaging, and tissue-based studies, ensuring appropriate controls, consistent documentation, and timely completion.
  • Meet regularly with the principal investigator to review laboratory-wide progress, resolve problems, and prioritize research activities.
• Data Management and Statistical Analysis
  • Organize, curate, and analyze large imaging and experimental datasets, maintaining accurate links among animals, specimens, imaging sessions, treatments, and outcomes.
  • Independently perform statistical analyses appropriate to each study, including group comparisons, correlations, regression, and longitudinal analyses.
  • Apply mixed-effects models to account for repeated measurements within animals and multiple lesions where applicable. Use resampling methods to estimate uncertainty and assess the stability of analytical results.
  • Maintain documented analytical methods, reproducible code, data dictionaries, and traceability from original data to final figures and tables.
  • Establish consistent procedures for data storage, backup, access, and version control.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
• Position is Contingent upon grant funding

Qualifications

• Master of Science and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with novel PET radiotracers and other molecular imaging biomarkers.
• Experience relating imaging measurements to autoradiography, immunofluorescence, and tissue biomarker assays.
• Experience developing automated or semiautomated image analysis workflows.
• A publication record involving quantitative imaging, kinetic modeling, or translational cancer research.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$67,155.00 - $76,973.25 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.

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