Imaging Shared Resource - Research Assistant

The Wistar Institute is a world leader in early-stage discovery science in the areas of cancer, immunology, and infectious disease. Wistar is committed to accelerating research advances from bench to bedside through brilliant science and distinctive approaches to collaboration among scientific investigators and academic and industry partners. Wistar’s dynamic environment supports the advancement of discoveries that will change the future of human health. 

The Wistar Institute has an opening for a Research Assistant to join the team in our Imaging Core Facility. You will be responsible for a wide range of imaging modalities in support of cutting-edge cancer research and vaccine development. Your primary duties will be for training, assistance, and protocol development in pre-clinical, small animal imaging inside a small animal barrier facility using our Revity IVIS SpectrumCT and Revity Vega ultrasound systems. Combined, these instruments provide 2D and 3D quantitative data using fluorescence, bioluminescence, ultrasound and microCT. In addition, you will work with our new SARRP (Small Animal Radiation Research Platform) which is used for whole-body and targeted radiotherapy. Collaboration with researchers to optimize their experimental protocols and assistance with post-imaging analysis is also an integral part of this position. You will be responsible for maintaining/calibrating/optimizing imaging equipment, tracking equipment usage data and ordering and maintaining supplies for the small animal imagers.

All team members are also cross-trained to provide professional assistance with standard widefield and confocal microscopes, quantitative image analysis, automated whole-slide imaging and other photographic services. Flexibility is essential, as our facility provides everything from portraits of cells to portraits of people and often requires creative approaches to address and interpret unique scientific problems.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in biological or physical sciences, or imaging-related field and at least 1 year of experience in a research environment.

• Ability to work with small animals (primarily mice) in a barrier facility environment.
• Familiarity with fluorescence microscopy and other advanced imaging techniques.
• Ability to effectively interact with users at all levels of experience and knowledge.
• Highly motivated with a genuine curiosity and ability to problem-solve.
• Strong computing skills.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to multi-task.
• Team player – strong desire to teach and learn.

The Wistar Institute is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). All candidates must share our commitment to DEI. The Wistar Institute is especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their research, mentoring, and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of our academic/research community.

The Wistar Institute is located in the University City area of Philadelphia, in the heart of the University of Pennsylvania Campus. Wistar provides resources to its faculty and staff that enable them to conduct cutting edge collaborative research and provides for outstanding intellectual environments and state-of-the-art facilities.

We offer a competitive salary and excellent benefits package.

For more information about The Wistar Institute visit our website at www.wistar.org. 

It is the policy of the Institute to provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, citizenship, ethnicity, color, creed, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, veteran status, mental or physical disability (including HIV and AIDS), pregnancy, caregiver status, domestic or sexual violence victim status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or on the basis of genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law, with respect to all terms and conditions of employment.