Jobs and Careers

Research Specialist A

Smilow Center for Translational, United States, United Statesfull_timeVerifiedPosted 30 Apr 2026

💰 $50,000/yr($44,500/yr – $50,000/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

Dr. Shelley Berger’s laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology is seeking a highly motivated Research Specialist A to join our multidisciplinary team. This person will be under the direct supervision of Dr. Charly Good, a Research Assistant Professor in Cell & Developmental Biology. Dr. Good’s lab integrates cutting-edge genomic and epigenetic approaches to understand how perturbations in the epigenome lead to aberrant gene expression programs in cancer. Our overarching goal is to uncover vulnerable pathways for targeted cancer therapy. This is an excellent opportunity to learn a wide array of molecular biology and genomics techniques and contribute to cutting-edge cancer research. An aptitude for quick learning, multitasking, manual dexterity, and strong interpersonal skills is required. The Good lab values a supportive and collaborative environment. More information about our research can be found at https://bergerlab.med.upenn.edu/.
Previous research experience preferred, with preference for prior experience in cancer biology and molecular biology. The ideal candidate will be a recent college graduate looking to obtain biomedical research experience prior to entering graduate school (PhD) or medical school (MD or MD/PhD).
Position is contingent upon continued grant funding.

Job Description

This Research Specialist A is expected to drive a research project (collect, analyze and interpret data, and present data at group meetings). They are expected to modify/troubleshoot procedures, assist in planning experiments, and report progress to the PI, Dr. Good. The candidate is expected to keep accurate laboratory notebooks, perform data analysis and assist in publication preparation. The Research Specialist A will also be expected to help with general maintenance of the research laboratory.

This position offers opportunities for independent research projects with opportunity for publication, as well as training in next-generation sequencing technologies. The candidate will help facilitate the molecular biology, epigenetics, and genomics experiments in the cancer research group, and will work closely with members of Dr. Berger’s laboratory. The expected work includes, but is not limited to;