Job Details

Research Assistant

Job Description

Job Description:
The Research Assistant will play a key role in the establishment and daily operations of a translational neurosurgical oncology laboratory focused on brain tumor pathophysiology and neuroimmunology. This position bridges clinical and laboratory research by supporting the collection and processing of patient-derived specimens, developing and maintaining a biobank, and performing molecular and cellular studies.

Primary responsibilities include obtaining patient consent under IRB-approved protocols, coordinating specimen collection from the operating room, and ensuring accurate documentation and biospecimen tracking. In the laboratory, the Sr. Research Assistant will process and store samples, perform molecular and cellular assays, and support translational projects in genomics, proteomics, and immunohistochemistry. Responsibilities also include contributing to Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) development, monitoring quality assurance, and ensuring compliance with institutional and national standards. Over time, there will be opportunities to expand into more experimental and hypothesis-driven roles.

Candidates should be highly motivated, detail-oriented individuals with strong organizational and interpersonal skills, comfortable working with both patients and multidisciplinary research teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Coordinate patient enrollment and obtain informed consent under IRB-approved protocols.
• Facilitate surgical specimen retrieval from the operating room, ensuring timely transport and processing.
• Maintain accurate databases and documentation for biospecimens, reagents, protocols, and lab finances.
• Establish and maintain a laboratory biobank of frozen and fixed tissue, blood, and CSF specimens; ensure accurate sample labeling, tracking, and security.
• Enter clinical, pathology, consent, and inventory data into laboratory databases; contribute to data management and annotation.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of SOPs and ensure compliance with data standards and biospecimen protocols.
• Perform molecular biology and cell culture techniques, including DNA/RNA extraction, protein lysate preparation, immunohistochemistry, and tissue processing.
• Assist in experimental design and execution for translational studies in tumor biology and neuroimmunology.
• Troubleshoot technical issues and interface with equipment vendors as needed.
• Train and mentor junior staff, students, and other research personnel in laboratory protocols.

Education and Experience Requirements:

• Master’s Degree in Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience, or a related field.
• Minimum of four (4) years of experience in a biomedical research laboratory.
• Experience with molecular biology, tissue culture, or histological techniques preferred.
• Familiarity with biospecimen quality assurance, SOPs, and regulatory standards desirable.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to work collaboratively across clinical and research teams.
• Comfort interacting with patients and clinical staff in both an inpatient hospital and operating room setting, or willingness to learn.

Work Shift

Workday Day (United States of America)

Worker Sub Type

Regular

Employee Entity

Thomas Jefferson University

Primary Location Address

901 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.    

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educa­tional and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status. 

Benefits

Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.

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