Research Assistant (Mouse Colony & Laboratory Operations) – Liang Lab

• The Liang Laboratory at The Wistar Institute is seeking a highly responsible and motivated Research Assistant with a primary focus on mouse colony management.
• This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working with mice, is highly organized, and takes pride in maintaining a well-run and compliant research environment.
• Our laboratory studies fundamental cellular processes—including autophagy, apoptosis, DNA damage/repair, and intracellular trafficking—in cancer biology and viral infection.
• This position centers on mouse colony oversight and lab operations support, rather than independent research projects.
• The successful candidate will play a key role in maintaining a healthy, well-organized mouse colony and supporting efficient lab function.
• There is potential for expanded responsibilities in lab operations over time.
• Mouse Colony Management (Primary Focus): Maintain and expand mouse colonies (breeding, genotyping, and colony tracking).
• Plan breeding strategies and genetic crosses.
• Monitor colony health, maintain accurate records, and ensure compliance with institutional guidelines.
• Coordinate closely with animal facility staff and veterinary personnel.
• Regulatory & Compliance: Assist with IACUC/IBC (and related) protocols and ensure compliance with animal use regulations.
• Serve as a liaison with the animal facility and compliance offices.
• Work Ethic & Expectations: Strong accountability for animal welfare and colony integrity.
• Willingness to support time-sensitive tasks, including occasional weekend/holiday checks.
• Proactive planning to ensure continuity of colony management.
• Additional Lab support (as needed): Assist with inventory, ordering, and lab organization.
• Maintain SOPs, records, and equipment coordination.
• Support onboarding and training of new lab members.
• Contribute to onboarding and training of new lab members where appropriate.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in biology or related field (or equivalent experience). Hands-on mouse experience required (breeding, genotyping, colony management). Familiarity with mouse genetics preferred. Highly organized, reliable, and able to work independently. Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 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 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 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.