Senior Laboratory Research Scientist--in-- Mass Spectrometry - Metabolomics --team

Summary

Closing date 16 May 2021 at 23:59

The Senior Laboratory Research Scientist will provide comprehensive support of the mass spectrometry requirements associated with the operation of the Metabolomics STP. The successful applicant will be heavily involved in implementation of mass spectrometry-based metabolomics workflows, including sample preparation, instrument operation, data processing, and general laboratory organisation.

Specific objectives will include, but not be limited to:

• Metabolomics and mass spectrometry operations (40%). Efficient operation and maintenance of mass spectrometers – particularly liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and/or supercritical fluid-mass spectrometry (SFC-MS) instrumentation. Effective performance of in house-established metabolomics procedures, including generation and extraction of metabolomics samples and data acquisition. This will include experimental design, implementation of stable isotope labelling techniques, and development of mass spectrometry techniques, as appropriate.
• Perform data analysis for Metabolomics Core collaborators (40%). Effectively use data analysis software to process raw mass spectrometry metabolomics data and analyse large-scale metabolomics datasets, including statistical analysis; this includes metabolic flux analysis using processed LC-MS (and SFC-MS, GC-MS) data; and to provide processed, analysed MS and metabolic flux data in a format appropriate for presentation and publications in collaboration with the Head of the Metabolomics STP and the end-user.
• Interact with and consult Metabolomics Core technology platform Collaborators (10%). Includes designing and performing appropriate analysis for other members of the STP and laboratories within the Crick.
• Laboratory management (10%). The post holder will be responsible for successful day to day operation of the laboratory, with roles including maintenance of safety standards, purchasing, and general organisation.

Lab web page:    www.crick.ac.uk/research/science-technology-platforms/metabolomics/

Person Specification

The post holder should embody and demonstrate our core Crick values: Bold, Imaginative, Open, Dynamic and Collegiate, in addition to the following:

Essential

• Evidence of experience (>3 years) in Metabolomics, Mass Spectrometry, and/or Analytical Chemistry.
• Evidence of significant (>3 years) experience in operation, maintenance and trouble-shooting of hyphenated-mass spectrometry (in particular, LC-MS and/or SFC-MS) instruments.
• Evidence of significant (>3 years) experience in design, performance, and analysis of metabolomics labelling experiments (including stable isotope label incorporation experiments and metabolic flux analysis).
• Experience with mass spectrometer-associated data handling packages (in particular Thermo, Waters, and Agilent software).
• Experience in metabolomics data analysis and statistics (including tools such as MetaboAnalyst, Progensis QI, Metabolomics Workbench, GraphPad Prism, etc.).
• Ability to work with day-to-day independence; good oral and written communication skills.
• Open and interactive with line manager, laboratory colleagues and collaborators.
• Organisational and time-management skills in order to be able to perform under strict deadlines and maintain operation of the laboratory.

Desirable

• Ph.D. in Metabolomics, Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Statistics, Mathematical Modelling, or other related discipline.
• Experience in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
• Experience in operation of relevant programming environments (e.g. R, Python, Matlab, etc.); High-quality refereed publications as a demonstration of productivity; experience in using mathematical/statistical approaches to solve biological problems; experience in integrating metabolomics with other –omics datasets.
• Proactive design/implementation of new analytical methods.
• Ability to synthesise scientific information into logical arguments; creativity and ability to think from first principles.
• Knowledge of other key metabolomics platforms (e.g. NMR spectroscopy).