Senior Research Technologist

TITLE:                    Senior Research Technologist – Mass Spectrometry & Proteomics

DEPARTMENT: Department of Internal Medicine

PROGRAM:         Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research (IABR)

Mission Driven, Community Focused About | Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science (cdrewu.edu)

Charles R. Drew University is located in the Watts-Willowbrook area of south Los Angeles and was founded in 1966 in the wake of the Watts uprising. CDU was founded to address inadequate medical care in the region and to provide equitable medical education opportunities for underrepresented students.

CDU is strongly invested in the local and regional community. The university leads multiple partnerships and programs to provide equitable healthcare resources in a variety of south Los Angeles neighborhoods.

The CDU Institute for Advanced Biomedical Research (IABR) is recruiting a skilled individual to provide advanced scientific and technical expertise in mass spectrometry–based proteomics to support and drive the laboratory’s research mission. This position combines hands-on work with scientific leadership, including experimental design, method development, training, and data interpretation. The incumbent will oversee the operation of state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS instrumentation, contribute to publication and external funding efforts, and serve as a core resource for proteomics expertise across research teams.

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Administrative

·         Develops standard operating protocols and manages overall function for CDU research labs and Core labs.

·         Implement a new laboratory management system (Agilent iLab) for all specialized equipment, see equipment list below.

 

Research & Experimental Design

·         Design, plan, and independently conduct proteomics and mass spectrometry experiments, including protein/peptide preparation, quantitative proteomics (e.g., SILAC, TMT, iTRAQ), and targeted or discovery-based workflows.

·         Develop and optimize new methodologies for protein/peptide separation, enrichment, and analysis.

·         Collaborate with PIs and investigators to shape experimental design and align proteomic approaches with research objectives.

 

Instrument & Workflow Leadership

·         Operate, maintain, and oversee mass spectrometry platforms (e.g., Orbitrap, timsTOF, Q-TOF, ion-trap) and associated LC systems.

·         Lead the development and implementation of SOPs for proteomics workflows.

·         Monitor system performance, conduct troubleshooting, and ensure rigorous quality control.

 

Scientific Contribution & Collaboration

·         Analyze and interpret proteomics datasets, collaborating with bioinformatics teams to ensure robust data pipelines.

·         Contribute to manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals with high-level scientific input.

·         Serve as an institutional resource for proteomics expertise, fostering cross-disciplinary collaborations.

 

Training & Mentorship

·         Train and mentor junior scientists, technicians, students, and postdocs in proteomics methods and mass spectrometry operation.

·         Provide guidance on study design, experimental troubleshooting, and data analysis strategies.

·         Promote a collaborative, team-based research culture.

 

Laboratory Oversight

·         Supervise daily proteomics operations, including scheduling of instrument time, reagent management, and vendor interactions.

·         Ensure compliance with safety, biosafety, and chemical handling regulations.

·         Implement a new laboratory management system (Agilent iLab) for all specialized equipment, see equipment list below.