Lab Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
Lab Associate jobs in Pennsylvania are concentrated in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Allentown, where academic medical centers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and clinical reference laboratories drive consistent demand at every level from entry-level bench work to senior quality control. Well-established employers such as Quest Diagnostics, Penn Medicine, and GSK maintain significant laboratory operations across the state and hire lab associates year-round. The most in-demand specialties include clinical chemistry, microbiology, and histology. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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The Faeder Lab seeks a postdoctoral associate to develop and apply mechanistic computational models of immune signaling and viral replication, and to advance the simulation methods that make such models practical. The initial assignment is to an NIH-funded collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. William Klimstra (Department of Immunology) that models Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) replication and its restriction by type I interferon. Depending on funding, the position will also support a collaboration with Dr. Rachel Gottschalk (Department of Immunology) on modeling cytokine-driven JAK-STAT signaling and its modulation by JAK inhibitors in human macrophages. A third area of work is the optimization of simulation capabilities for rule-based models, building on strong unpublished results in the lab. The postdoc will work closely with experimental collaborators and with a team of graduate students and will be co-mentored by Drs. Faeder and Gottschalk as the JAK-STAT project develops.
Viral replication and interferon restriction
- Refactor our published rule-based model of EEEV replication into a modular BioNetGen representation and recalibrate it using new high-resolution data (smFISH, ribosome profiling, ddRT-qPCR and reporter assays).
- Extend the model to include candidate interferon-mediated restriction mechanisms and use model-based analysis to identify the replication steps most sensitive to restriction.
- Perform Bayesian parameter estimation with regularization, including sensitivity, identifiability and uncertainty analyses, and generate testable predictions to guide experiments.
JAK-STAT signaling and JAK inhibitor response
- Develop, calibrate and analyze identifiable network models of cytokine (IL-6, IL-10 and type I interferon) signaling through JAK1, JAK2, TYK2, STAT1 and STAT3, including data-constrained representations of JAK contributions to STAT phosphorylation.
- Fit models to single-cell phospho-STAT measurements and extend them to population models of cell-to-cell and donor-to-donor variability using nonlinear mixed-effects methods, to predict individual sensitivity to selective JAK inhibition.
- Work with machine learning collaborators to integrate mechanistic models of STAT dynamics with sequence-to-function models of gene expression.
Simulation methods for rule-based models
- Develop, benchmark and optimize simulation algorithms and software for rule-based models, including network-based and network-free approaches, and contribute to the open-source BioNetGen software ecosystem.
- Prepare methods manuscripts and documentation describing new simulation capabilities and apply them to the lab’s modeling projects.
All projects
- Present results at lab and project meetings and scientific conferences, prepare manuscripts, and contribute to model and software documentation.
- Help mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the lab as appropriate.
Qualifications
- PhD (or near completion) in computational biology, systems biology, biophysics, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, statistics or a related quantitative field.
- Experience with ODE or stochastic modeling and parameter estimation; familiarity with Bayesian inference, sequential Monte Carlo or nonlinear mixed-effects methods is a strong plus.
- Programming proficiency in Python; experience with scientific computing, performance optimization or compiled languages (for example C++) is an advantage for the simulation methods work.
- Experience with rule-based modeling (BioNetGen, Kappa) or with modeling of intracellular signaling or viral replication is an advantage.
- Ability to work with experimental collaborators and to communicate quantitative results clearly to a mixed computational and experimental audience.
- Strong communication skills and a collaborative, critically engaged working style.
The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.
The Faeder Lab seeks a postdoctoral associate to develop and apply mechanistic computational models of immune signaling and viral replication, and to advance the simulation methods that make such models practical. The initial assignment is to an NIH-funded collaboration with the laboratory of Dr. William Klimstra (Department of Immunology) that models Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) replication and its restriction by type I interferon. Depending on funding, the position will also support a collaboration with Dr. Rachel Gottschalk (Department of Immunology) on modeling cytokine-driven JAK-STAT signaling and its modulation by JAK inhibitors in human macrophages. A third area of work is the optimization of simulation capabilities for rule-based models, building on strong unpublished results in the lab. The postdoc will work closely with experimental collaborators and with a team of graduate students and will be co-mentored by Drs. Faeder and Gottschalk as the JAK-STAT project develops.
Viral replication and interferon restriction
- Refactor our published rule-based model of EEEV replication into a modular BioNetGen representation and recalibrate it using new high-resolution data (smFISH, ribosome profiling, ddRT-qPCR and reporter assays).
- Extend the model to include candidate interferon-mediated restriction mechanisms and use model-based analysis to identify the replication steps most sensitive to restriction.
- Perform Bayesian parameter estimation with regularization, including sensitivity, identifiability and uncertainty analyses, and generate testable predictions to guide experiments.
JAK-STAT signaling and JAK inhibitor response
- Develop, calibrate and analyze identifiable network models of cytokine (IL-6, IL-10 and type I interferon) signaling through JAK1, JAK2, TYK2, STAT1 and STAT3, including data-constrained representations of JAK contributions to STAT phosphorylation.
- Fit models to single-cell phospho-STAT measurements and extend them to population models of cell-to-cell and donor-to-donor variability using nonlinear mixed-effects methods, to predict individual sensitivity to selective JAK inhibition.
- Work with machine learning collaborators to integrate mechanistic models of STAT dynamics with sequence-to-function models of gene expression.
Simulation methods for rule-based models
- Develop, benchmark and optimize simulation algorithms and software for rule-based models, including network-based and network-free approaches, and contribute to the open-source BioNetGen software ecosystem.
- Prepare methods manuscripts and documentation describing new simulation capabilities and apply them to the lab’s modeling projects.
All projects
- Present results at lab and project meetings and scientific conferences, prepare manuscripts, and contribute to model and software documentation.
- Help mentor graduate and undergraduate students in the lab as appropriate.
Qualifications
- PhD (or near completion) in computational biology, systems biology, biophysics, physics, applied mathematics, computer science, statistics or a related quantitative field.
- Experience with ODE or stochastic modeling and parameter estimation; familiarity with Bayesian inference, sequential Monte Carlo or nonlinear mixed-effects methods is a strong plus.
- Programming proficiency in Python; experience with scientific computing, performance optimization or compiled languages (for example C++) is an advantage for the simulation methods work.
- Experience with rule-based modeling (BioNetGen, Kappa) or with modeling of intracellular signaling or viral replication is an advantage.
- Ability to work with experimental collaborators and to communicate quantitative results clearly to a mixed computational and experimental audience.
- Strong communication skills and a collaborative, critically engaged working style.
The University of Pittsburgh is an equal opportunity employer / disability / veteran.
See All 11 Lab Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
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Where Pennsylvania roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Lab Associate Job Market in Pennsylvania
A snapshot from current Pennsylvania openings, updated as new roles post.
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What Pennsylvania Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lab associate jobs across Pennsylvania.
- Associate or bachelor's degree in medical laboratory science, biology, or chemistry
- ASCP Board of Certification (BOC) or AMT certification preferred or required
- Hands-on experience with laboratory instrumentation and specimen processing
- Familiarity with laboratory information systems such as Epic Beaker or Cerner
- Knowledge of CLIA regulations, CAP standards, and laboratory safety protocols
- Strong attention to detail with ability to follow standardized operating procedures
Lab Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a lab associate in Pennsylvania?
Most lab associate positions in Pennsylvania require at minimum an associate degree in medical laboratory science, clinical laboratory science, biology, or a related field, with a bachelor's degree preferred for hospital and reference lab roles. Pennsylvania does not issue a separate state license for lab associates, but most employers require or strongly prefer certification through the ASCP Board of Certification or the American Medical Technologists registry. Completing an accredited clinical practicum at a Pennsylvania hospital or reference laboratory significantly strengthens an application.
Which companies hire lab associates in Pennsylvania?
Employers hiring lab associates in Pennsylvania right now include University of Pittsburgh, Abzena, and Penn Medicine, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Pennsylvania's dense concentration of academic health systems, independent reference labs, and pharmaceutical manufacturing sites means openings appear regularly across both clinical and research settings.
Which Pennsylvania cities have the most lab associate jobs?
The Pennsylvania cities with the most lab associate openings are Pittsburgh, Bristol, and Hershey. Philadelphia leads because of its cluster of major academic health systems and reference laboratory hubs, Pittsburgh follows with its strong hospital network and university research institutions, and Allentown draws steady demand from regional health systems and nearby pharmaceutical operations in the Lehigh Valley corridor.
Are there remote lab associate jobs in Pennsylvania?
Yes, but they're rare. Lab associate work is fundamentally hands-on, requiring physical specimen handling, instrumentation operation, and on-site quality control, so the vast majority of roles are on-site. About 50% of lab associate openings tied to Pennsylvania are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, and those tend to involve data review, remote result interpretation, or laboratory information system support rather than direct bench work.
How can I get hired as a lab associate in Pennsylvania with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a lab assistant or specimen processor position at a Pennsylvania health system while completing or immediately after finishing an accredited laboratory science program. Large Pennsylvania employers such as Penn Medicine, UPMC, and Jefferson Health run new graduate orientation tracks and structured on-the-job training programs designed for candidates without prior clinical experience. Lateral moves from phlebotomy or medical assistant roles are common on-ramps, and holding an ASCP Student or Associate-level credential before applying gives candidates a measurable edge in a competitive applicant pool.
Where can I find and apply to lab associate jobs in Pennsylvania?
You can find and apply to lab associate jobs in Pennsylvania on Migrate Mate, which lists current Pennsylvania openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, identify the ones that match your background and preferred location, and apply directly to each position that fits.
See All 11 Lab Associate Jobs in Pennsylvania
Find roles in Pennsylvania that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Lab Associate Jobs