2 jobs found

Research Associate in Native Ambient Mass Spectrometry SALARY: From £38,500 per annum (depending on skills and experience) LOCATION: Didcot, Oxfordshire JOB TYPE: 3 Years, Full-Time, Fixed Term Contract The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a technology institute established by the UK Government as a unique centre committed to advancing tools that are needed to transform healthcare in the future. The Institute brings together researchers in life and physical sciences, and engineering, to develop a spectrum of tools which we will use to image, interpret and intervene in biological systems. These insights will speed up the discovery of new medicines, help find new diagnostics and contribute to a deeper understanding of human health and disease. Our Science Strategy seeks to focus the Franklin s research and unite our researchers around our Technology Innovation Challenges and Life Science Challenges. We seek to recruit a postdoctoral research associate to undertake research in native ambient mass spectrometry imaging. The ideal candidate will have experience in at least two of the following: native mass spectrometry, top-down mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry imaging, ion source development, instrument development. As a Research Associate at the Franklin, you will bring scientific knowledge and skills to deliver a specific research project and/or you will bring independent, creative science, or specific skills to a team delivering a project or program. Through this work, you will build scientific independence, develop new science and leadership skills and establish a growing reputation externally. In this role, you will be responsible for developing tools for native ambient mass spectrometry, including nano-DESI and related techniques, and integration of NAMS with other structural biology techniques. You will collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for improved mass spectrometry imaging of intact proteins and their assemblies in tissue and advancing integrative spatial and structural biology. 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. Key Responsibilities As a Research Associate you will: Develop new tools for native ambient mass spectrometry imaging. Design, model and construct new instrumentation to enable chemical imaging. Collaborate with biological and MS experts at the Franklin to optimise MSI conditions and methods for specific collaborations 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 such as sensitivity and spatial resolution. Plan and conduct experiments, analyse and interpret results and supervised delivery of outputs (e.g. research report, patent application) in a scientific or technology area of interest. Work within a project team, contributing to wider projects around Franklin's key Challenges. Lead major contributions to outputs from research including papers, patents and both internal and external presentations. Support and develop others including day-to-day supervision of students or visitors in areas related to own research. Have supervised, staged progression to first stages of scientific independence with opportunities to further develop science and skills/experience. Enhance your research through collaboration with other researchers and make active contributions to exchanging of ideas through your own network. Be able to understand, interpret, create and communicate appropriately within a research context. Develop search and discovery skills and techniques. Be supervised by a Scientist/Senior Scientist in delivery of research outputs, either in the context of a project or Challenge or as an early career development fellow. This job description sets out the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self-select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you did not tick. Whilst the role requires candidates to hold a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who have submitted their PhD/DPhil thesis, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £37,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the PhD/DPhil qualification). 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) Buying and Selling Annual Leave Workplace Nursery Salary Sacrifice Scheme Hub building with state-of-the-art laboratories Hybrid and flexible working 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 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. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every applicant has an equal opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities. This includes making adjustments for candidates with specific needs. Please contact us to discuss your requirements confidentially. At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we also welcome applications from all around the world!

Applications are welcomed from candidates in Europe and other overseas countries. Financial support for visa application fees is available, subject to eligibility and organisational policy. There are Post-doc (Research Fellow) positions available in the field of integrative structural biology, based in the group of Prof. Teresa Carlomagno at the University of Birmingham. The research group studies the functional mechanisms of proteins, including intrinsically disordered proteins, nucleic acids and their complexes by integrative structural biology. The laboratory uses and develops high-field NMR spectroscopy methods as major structural biology tool, in combination with several other techniques. The Research Fellow will work in one of the following fields: RNA metabolism, regulation of gene expression, DNA repair, signalling. The post holder will use NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and/or Electron Microscopy, as well as Mass Spectrometry and Small Angle Scattering, to study the structure of protein-protein or protein-nucleic acids complexes and discover the mechanisms of their function and regulation. There are opportunities to develop new approaches to integrative structural biology with the combination of the techniques mentioned above. In addition, the Research Fellow will use molecular biology, biophysical and biochemical techniques to characterize biomolecular complexes and their activity in vitro and cellular biology approaches to verify the functional mechanisms in vivo. Role Summary Operate within area of specialism Analyse and interpret research findings and results Work within specified research grants and projects and contribute to writing bids Contribute to public understanding of the discipline or similar. Main Duties The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below. Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, in the area of interest of the hosting laboratory (Prof T Carlomagno) Acquire, analyse and interpret data - structural biology, biochemical and biophysical data Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding Disseminate research findings for publication, research seminars etc Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars and as posters Supervise students on research related work and provide guidance to PhD students where appropriate to the discipline Contribute to writing bids for research funding Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods Undertake management/administration arising from research Contribute to Departmental/Institute research-related activities and research-related administration Contribute to enterprise, business development and/or public engagement activities of manifest benefit to the College and the University, often under supervision of a project leader Collect research data; this may be through a variety of research methods, such as scientific experimentation and literature reviews Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines Promotes equality and values diversity acting as a role model and fostering an inclusive working culture. Person Specification PhD (or near to completion) in Biophysics/ Biochemistry/ Chemical Biology/ Structural Biology or related areas or equivalent qualifications Proficiency in either biomolecular NMR spectroscopy or single-particle electron microscopy, both in data acquisition and analysis Practical experience in a biochemical laboratory and/or handling nucleic acids High level analytical capability Ability to communicate complex information clearly Fluency in relevant models, techniques or methods and ability to contribute to developing new ones Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes Contribute to the planning and organising of the research programme and/or specific research project Co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort Knowledge of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010, and how to actively ensure in day to day activity in own area that those with protected characteristics are treated equally and fairly Willingness to work in a competitive, international environment Informal enquiries to Teresa Carlomagno, email: Use of AI in applications: We want to understand your genuine interest in the role and for the written elements of your application to accurately reflect your own communication style. Applications that rely too heavily on AI tools can appear generic and lack the detail we need to assess your skills and experience. Such applications will unlikely be progressed to interview. We believe there is no such thing as a 'typical' member of University of Birmingham staff and that diversity in its many forms is a strength that underpins the exchange of ideas, innovation and debate at the heart of University life. We are committed to proactively addressing the barriers experienced by some groups in our community and are proud to hold Athena SWAN, Race Equality Charter and Disability Confident accreditations. We have an Equality Diversity and Inclusion Centre that focuses on continuously improving the University as a fair and inclusive place to work where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. We are also committed to sustainability, which is a key part of our strategy. You can find out more about our work to create a fairer university for everyone on our website.