The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a national research centre, funded by the UK Research and Innovation, which is dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology. The Biological Mass Spectrometry theme focuses on the development of new instrumentation for mass spectrometric imaging (MSI), enabling the visualisation of molecular distributions at subcellular level and the de-novo structure elucidation of chemical species. The ultimate goal of the theme is to understand the mechanisms behind molecular interaction networks in health and disease, and define novel diagnostic and therapeutic targets for next generation healthcare. We aim to enhance mass spectrometry as an increasingly vital tool for analytical chemistry, structural biology, and clinical medicine by creating the only instruments capable of generating structures ‘from atoms to animals’.
The project will focus on the use and application of world-leading unique mass spectrometry instrumentation to study metabolism in tissues and cells in combination with the recently developed Universal Fragmentation Model (UFM) technology for metabolite identification. This will include developing instrumental and data analysis workflows on a range of novel instrumentation with multiple ionisation sources, complementary modalities, and MS detectors. The successful candidate can expect to develop cutting-edge analytical tools and apply them to a range of challenges in metabolomics (both MSI and liquid chromatography (LC) based in combination with ion mobility spectrometry (IMS)), studying disease states and biomarker discovery. This will involve working with a multidisciplinary team across the Franklin and outside to achieve valuable outcomes from the high-performance instrumentation.
The candidate will have experience with applying MS metabolomics to a range of health-related projects and LC based data processing and metabolite ID, and ideally in coupling metabolomics to mass spectrometry imaging. Handling biological samples, complex data analysis and development of new workflows for a wide range of systems will be required. The project will be hosted in the new Rosalind Franklin Institute facilities at Harwell but will also involve working with investigators across the Franklin, collaborator laboratories and with member institutes.
Responsibilities
You will:
- Embrace the primary project of the role, namely developing LC and MSI based metabolomics and advanced data processing approaches for biological samples.
- Support the development of the UFM technology.
- Collaborate with instrumentation experts at the Franklin to optimise LC, MSI and IMS conditions and methods for specific applications and challenges.
- Adapt to working across multi-modal instrumentation and collating multiomic and imaging data from diverse sources and scales.
- Investigate the use of cutting-edge instrumentation to explore key scientific challenges, currently including: extra-mitochondrial ATP production in the retina, biomarkers for Alzheimer’s Disease, neuronal development in the hippocampus, and microstructures in tumour growth.
- Collaborate with experts across the Franklin and the broader UK user community to develop medical applications of the instrumentation and UFM based data-processing tools.
- Develop the scientific scope of the project, formulate relevant research questions, conduct individual research, analysing detailed and complex qualitative and/or quantitative data from a variety of sources, and generate original ideas by building on existing concepts.
- Publish research articles in leading academic journals.
- Present findings at national and international meetings/conferences.
- Take a formal or informal role (as required) in the supervision of research students, including recruitment, mentorship, and career development.
- Raise research funds through grant applications, and manage own area of a larger research budget.
- Participate in and support the public engagement and widening access activities of the Franklin.
- Any other duties that come up in the normal running of the facility and that can be reasonably requested of the post-holder.
In return we offer:
- 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
- Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
- Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
- Hub building with state-of-the-art laboratories
- Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
- Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
- Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
- Health Cash Plan
- Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
- Free on-site parking
- Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff
Please note whilst the role is a Postdoctoral Research level and requires candidates to hold a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who are close to completion of their PhD/DPhil qualification, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £34,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the PhD/DPhil qualification).
Before submitting your application please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role by clicking on the attachment at the bottom of the page on our website:
https://opportunities.rfi.ac.uk/vacancy/pdra-in-metabolomics-557529.htmlAbout us: The Rosalind Franklin Institute is a new national Research Centre, funded by the UK government through UK Research and Innovation, dedicated to bringing about transformative changes in life science through interdisciplinary research and technology.
Location: The Franklin is based in Harwell Campus, UK’s innovation hub and well-established as one of the leading science and innovation campuses in Europe.
The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers. Both our work and our institution are better for it.
At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we welcome applications from all around the world!
To be considered for this role, please send a CV and cover letter through explaining why you think you are the right person for this job.
Closing date: Please be aware that applications are accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled; therefore, we reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier if required.
