Research Specialist D

University Overview

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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.

Job Summary

The Kim Lab for Innovation in Image-Guided Interventions at the University of Pennsylvania seeks a Research Specialist D to provide specialized veterinary clinical care in support of preclinical research involving both large (sheep, swine) and small (rabbits, rats, mice) animal models. This position plays a vital role in facilitating advanced image-guided procedures within a translational research environment.

Under minimal supervision, the Research Specialist will assess and triage animal health, provide emergency and routine care, administer medications via multiple routes, and maintain comprehensive health and treatment records. The technician will independently perform and assist with surgical and image-guided procedures, including anesthesia monitoring, arterial and venous catheter placement, transarterial/venous/lymphatic interventions, instrument sterilization, and post-operative recovery. Experience with image-guided interventions is preferred; however, a strong interest and willingness to learn these techniques is essential.

Additional responsibilities include performing wellness checks, maintaining equipment and inventory, collecting diagnostic specimens, and ensuring compliance with IACUC protocols. The technician will collaborate closely with veterinary and research staff to ensure humane, high-quality animal care that supports scientific objectives.

This is a full-time position requiring some flexibility in scheduling and participation in rotating weekend and holiday coverage. The role is focused exclusively on veterinary clinical and procedural support for preclinical imaging and interventional studies.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide specialized veterinary clinical care to research species housed in ULAR managed facilities. Primary species will be swine and rodents, with additional care for sheep, rabbits, rats and mice. Other species may be included pending research project goals.
• Independently triage and assess animal health, provide immediate care to emergency cases, perform image-guided interventions including, but not limited to intravenous and intraarterial catheter placement, trans arterial/venous/lymphatic interventions and cardiac procedures.
• Perform regular wellness checks.
• Administer medications by oral, topical, and injectable routes of administration.
• Maintain animal health records.
• Utilize knowledge of pharmacology and drug calculations.
• Operate sterilization equipment and prepare surgical instrument packs.
• Perform facility cleaning, maintenance, stocking, and inventory.
• Provide care to critical animals in surgical recovery.
• Consult with ULAR clinical veterinary staff and laboratory personnel on treatment options.
• Collect specimens such as blood and feces and perform diagnostic testing on samples such as parasite checks and identification.
• Track items/expenses for labs utilizing Kim Lab facilities and resources.
• Familiarity with IACUC protocols and assure investigator adherence to approved protocols and provide necessary documentation to IACUC.
• Assist in routine surgical procedures and perform anesthetic procedures on research animals with minimal supervision.
• Perform perioperative care of animals undergoing anesthetic procedures, including induction and maintenance of anesthesia, determination and controlling degree of anesthetic depth and providing supportive care following surgical procedures.
• Maintain up to date and adequate inventory of supplies in pharmacy and surgical suites.
• Use computer effectively as a means of communication.
• The hours for this position are typically 9a-5p, but times may vary greatly depending on project need.

Qualifications

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

Key skills/competency

• Veterinary Clinical Care
• Preclinical Research
• Image-Guided Interventions
• Animal Health Assessment
• Anesthesia Monitoring
• Surgical Support
• IACUC Protocols
• Pharmacology & Drug Calculation
• Specimen Collection
• Laboratory Management