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Research Specialist A

University of Pennsylvania
Levy Ctr for Oral Health Rsrch, United States, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 18 Jun 2026
💰 $47,500/yr($45,278/yr$47,500/yr)

About the role

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

Job Profile Title

Research Specialist A

Job Description Summary

The employee will work closely with the users of the Spatial Transcriptomics Core and Tissue Processing and Imaging Core at the School of Dental Medicine for 50% effort and also provide research support in the laboratory of Dr. Tizzano for the remaining 50% effort. For the two cores, the employee will be primarily responsible for performing the 10X Genomics Xenium In Situ workflow, and instrumentation training (slide scanner, cryostat) for core users. In Dr. Tizzano’s lab, the employee will work on the role of taste receptors in solitary chemosensory cells and macrophages of the gingiva and other mucosae, using a variety of laboratory techniques. This position requires working with animals and working in the PDM vivarium. In each role, the employee will be responsible for general lab maintenance.

Job Description

Job Duties/Responsibilities

The employee will perform benchtop workflow for Xenium In Situ. This is a 3 day workflow including reagent preparation, slide de-paraffinization, tissue de-crosslinking, probe hybridization, ligation, amplification, cell segmentation staining, and Xenium analyzer preparation, loading, and clean-up. This involves meticulous adherence to a standardized protocol. Prior wet-lab experience is required, but specialized on-site training for this specific workflow will be provided.

The employee will be working closely with Dr. Tizzano and the Tizzano Lab personnel and the expected work includes, but it is not limited to: experiments of general cell biology and molecular biology, physiology, calcium imaging, cell culture, histology, immune assays, mouse surgery, RNA-seq, special transcriptomics, immunofluorescence microscopy. Responsibilities will include Tizzano lab and mouse colony maintenance, including but not limited to: chemical inventory, equipment’s maintenance, receiving ordered supplies, keeping the lab organized, letting the PI know when supplies and chemicals are low for re-order, and mouse genotyping, breeding and weaning.

Other duties as assigned. Provide and maintain expertise in innovative solutions focused on the responsible stewardship of Penn Dental Medicine and its community experience

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science and 0 to 1 year of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Tizzano’s laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania School

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Company

University of Pennsylvania

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