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Seeking Breakthrough Makers

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) offers countless ways to change lives. Our diverse community of more than 20,000 Breakthrough Makers will inspire you to pursue passions, develop expertise, and drive innovation.

At CHOP, your experience is valued; your voice is heard; and your contributions make a difference for patients and families. Join us as we build on our promise to advance pediatric care—and your career.

CHOP’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

CHOP is committed to building an inclusive culture where employees feel a sense of belonging, connection, and community within their workplace. We are a team dedicated to fostering an environment that allows for all to be their authentic selves. We are focused on attracting, cultivating, and retaining diverse talent who can help us deliver on our mission to be a world leader in the advancement of healthcare for children.

We strongly encourage all candidates of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

Overview of the Position:

The Mitochondrial Medicine Frontier Program (MMFP) is seeking to fill a Research Associate Scientist I to serve as the preclinical model high-throughput screening program manager for the CHOP Mitochondrial Medicine research group. Screens may include small molecules and/or genetic libraries or proprietary candidate molecule screens, as well as lead candidate and/or target validation in C. elegans (worms), D. rerio (zebrafish), and human cells (including fibroblasts, iPSCs, etc).

• Demonstrated expertise with preclinical model research in C. elegans and/or zebrafish is required, and experience performing and interpreting drug screens is strongly preferred.
• Screening methodologies primarily include phenotypic, molecular, and/or fluorescence imaging-based physiologic analyses.
• Reporting to the MMFP Executive Director and Laboratory Research Scientific Director, this role is for an independent researcher who plans, coordinates and executes complex research projects.
• They will participate in and assist in the planning and coordination of research projects, including grant preparation, program descriptions, research team oversight, and direct project performance.
• They will be expected to function in an independent fashion and be responsible for successful conduct, troubleshooting, interpretation, communication, and writing results of one or more research projects for presentations, peer-reviewed publications, sponsor updates, and grant reports.

Projects will include a wide range of funded research programs from federal, foundation, philanthropic, and biopharma partners. This will be closely integrated with a diverse team of scientists, including faculty-level and senior research scientists, research technicians, post-doctoral research fellows, undergraduate students, and ancillary colleagues, including bioinformatics scientists, biopharma advisors, a science writer, and administrative support.

A long-term commitment of at least three years is strongly preferred. The position requires full-time in-person research on the main CHOP campus in Philadelphia, PA

What you will do

• Assists faculty in the conduct of research of significant value in the basic and/or translational science area
• Plans, conducts research projects within the federal, institutional regulations and policies
• Collaborates with researchers, external agencies and institutions to develop cooperative research initiatives
• Trains technical staff, students in lab procedures
• Reviews manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
• Assists with the submission of grant applications, contracts and research projects funding
• Participates in free discussion, research progress, and overall morale
• Responsible for appropriate use of research funds
• May supervise students or other research staff as assigned

Education Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree Required
• Master's Degree Preferred
• Doctorate Preferred

Experience Qualifications

• At least seven (7) years of directly relevant post grad scientific lab experience Required
• At least nine (9) years of directly relevant post grad scientific lab experience Preferred
• Successful completion of a Post Doc Fellowship Preferred

Skills and Abilities

• Expert knowledge in the use of a wide variety of lab techniques, research equipment and research related software
• Expertise required in preclinical model animals required, specifically including C. elegans (worms) husbandry, molecular biology, and phenotyping
• Expertise preferred in preclinical model animals, specifically including D. rerio (zebrafish)
• Expertise preferred required in human cell studies, specifically including fibroblasts and/or D. rerio (zebrafish) research
• Outstanding verbal and written communications skills are required
• Excellent organizational skills are required
• Excellent critical thinking / problem-solving skills
• Excellent analytical skills and strong statistical data interpretation ability • Solid interpersonal skills
• Solid team skills
• Solid scientific team leadership skills

?To carry out its mission, CHOP is committed to supporting the health of our patients, families, workforce, and global community. As a condition of employment, CHOP employees who work in patient care buildings or who have patient facing responsibilities must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and receive an annual influenza vaccine.

Employees may request exemptions for valid religious and medical reasons. Start dates may be delayed until candidates are immunized or exemption requests are reviewed.

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