Senior Research Investigator, Discovery Research

University OverviewThe University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.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.Posted Job TitleSenior Research Investigator, Discovery ResearchJob Profile TitleResearch Investigator, SeniorJob Description SummaryJob DescriptionThe Gene Therapy Program (GTP) is entering a new era of unprecedented opportunity with the great potential to reshape the face of medicine as we know it. Our discoveries have set the stage for successful treatments and possibly even cures for devastating genetic diseases. The laboratory of Dr. James Wilson, at GTP of the University of Pennsylvania, has been a leader in the development of innovative vector technology for close to three decades. We have emerged as the “go-to” organization for public and private partners, who want to participate in the gene therapy space. Currently, we are positioned to lead another round of vector innovation and establish pre-clinical and clinical proof-of-concept in therapeutic applications of in-vivo genome editing. Due to our success, we are currently looking for Senior Research Investigator (SRI), Discovery Research, to continue work in the areas of next-generation AAV vector design.As an SRI, Discovery Research, you will be involved in the development of next-generation AAV vectors that will revolutionize the field of gene therapy. In each case, you will be working in the setting of large interdisciplinary teams, where you will function independently in the execution of the experiments but will need to work collaboratively with other team members. Working independently, you will perform design, optimization, and implementation of complex experiments within specified timelines; provide cross-organizational support for the essential laboratory functions, including effective management of laboratory resources, and participation in maintenance of centralized reagents; contribute to writing/reviewing manuscripts, preparing presentations, establishing collaborations as well as writing/reviewing protocols and SOPs.This position offers the opportunity to interface broadly internally & externally with diverse functional areas. Joining GTP offers scientific professionals the unique opportunity of seeing their research go from bench to bedside and discoveries that could one day lead to cures.Qualifications:Ph. D. and 5 years of experience in the field of protein engineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, enzymology, gene therapy, or related fields required. Research at GTP requires knowledge of multiple scientific disciplines including molecular and cell biology, protein biochemistry, virology, immunology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology. The successful candidate must thrive in a team environment, have excellent written and oral communication skills, ability to prioritize in a fast-paced environment, and proficiency with standard methods of data analyses.