Associate Director E, Research

University of Pennsylvania

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Tolbert Laboratory in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of Pennsylvania is recruiting a senior research scientist to help build a new interdisciplinary initiative in partnership with the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation focused on uncovering the mechanistic principles that govern RNA–protein complexes and translating these insights into new therapeutic strategies. This initiative intentionally integrates structural biology, biophysics, computational modeling, chemical biology, and RNA biology to investigate regulatory RNA–protein interactions involved in human and infectious disease. The preferred candidate will play a central leadership role in coordinating the scientific and operational activities of the program while working closely with the Principal Investigator and key stakeholders to drive research strategy and collaborative initiatives. They will also play a central leadership role in overseeing the day-to-day scientific operations, coordinating research activities across multiple project teams, and helping drive scientific progress across a portfolio of collaborative projects. The primary purpose of this position is to build a new interdisciplinary initiative in partnership with the Penn Institute for RNA Innovation focused on uncovering the mechanistic principles that govern RNA-protein complexes in human disease and translating these insights into new therapeutic targets. Given the scope, the position requires a senior level scientist who will play a central leadership role in coordinating scientific and operational activities of the initiative while working closely with the PI (Blanton S. Tolbert) and key stakeholders. Position contingent on continued funding.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and 7 to 10 years of experience or Masters of Science, Masters of Arts, and 5 to 7 or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
Expertise in at least one relevant area such as RNA biology, RNA–protein interactions, structural biology, computational modeling, or chemical biology.
Strong organizational, leadership, and project management skills.
Intellectual curiosity and high degree of emotional intelligence.

Nice To Haves

PhD in biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, structural biology, or a related field and 5–10 years of research experience beyond the PhD, including postdoctoral and/or industry experience strongly preferred.
Experience working in interdisciplinary research environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day scientific and operational activities of the research initiative
Coordinate research projects spanning biochemistry, structural biology, computational modeling, and RNA biology
Facilitate communication and collaboration among internal lab members and external collaborators
Contribute to experimental design, data interpretation, and strategic planning
Supervise and mentor 1–2 research technicians and help coordinate the work of trainees
Assist with program management including meetings, project tracking and reporting
Support manuscript preparation, grant development, and scientific reporting
Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Benefits

Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare.
You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.