Senior Staff Scientist - Metabolomics

Department
 

BSD DFI - Metabolomics

About the Department
 

The Duchossois Family Institute (DFI) investigates the role of the microbiome in resistance and susceptibility to infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. The microbiome consists of complex populations of microbes that can be characterized using a multiomics approach. We have created a metabolomics facility within the DFI to identify, measure and characterize the metabolites found in the gut. We aim to support the understanding of how these molecules function in microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions. Scientists within the DFI metabolomics laboratory will support University of Chicago and external projects through assistance in experimental design, creation of custom analyses methods, and with data analyses and visualizations for publication. Additionally, scientists will create quantitative methods using mass spectrometry for clinical applications and perform routine metabolite sample preparation and analysis.

Job Summary
 

The job facilitates and promotes a research project or contributes to the scientific direction of a research resource. Position receives a moderate level of guidance and direction.

Responsibilities

• Will work with graduate students, post-docs, and faculty to design and carry out targeted and untargeted metabolomic experiments. 

• Will develop robust sample preparation methods. 

• Will draft SOPs for all development methods and processes. 

• Will develop robust methods using GCMS and LCMS (reverse phase, HILIC; triple quad, high-resolution, MS/MS) for the targeted and untargeted analysis of microbial metabolites. 

• Will aid in the structural elucidation of unknown compounds. 

• Will precisely quantify concentrations of microbial metabolites using LCMS and GCMS. 

• Will aid laboratory director and the hospital in setting up and validating mass spectrometry-based test for CLIA approval and clinical use.

• Will develop purification methods for new compounds of interest to collaborators or the institute.

• Will analyze mass spectrometry metabolomic data using specialized software programs.

• Will give technical direction to research technicians and act as a mentor.

• Will perform research with an emphasis on data quality and integrity in a time efficient manner.

• Perform the above tasks independently with minimal input from manager. 

• Will aid in writing manuscripts with collaborators and the institute.

• Reviews laboratory protocols and training on new techniques. Manage complex data sets for research.

• Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis. Facilitates and promotes a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.

• Develops laboratory protocols and training on new techniques. Manage, analyze and make recommendations on complex data sets for research.

• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications
 

Education:

• Ph.D. in chemistry, chemical biology, chemical engineering, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, or related field.

Experience:

• Previous experience in analysis of microbially derived metabolites, preferably from the gut microbiome of human or murine environments.

• 2+ years analyzing targeted, untargeted, and quantitative mass spectrometry data.

• 1+ year developing laboratory-developed tests (LDTs).

Preferred Competencies

• Experience with basic chromatography (reverse phase, HILIC) and mass spectrometry techniques and method development including GCMS and LCMS (triple quad, high-resolution, tandem mass spec).

• Experience in troubleshooting GCMS and LCMS systems.

• Experience developing quantitative small molecule methods using GCMS and LCMS.

• Experience utilizing basic chemical and biochemical knowledge towards the measurement and/or characterization of small molecules using mass spectrometry.

• Experience in structural elucidation and unknown identification, preferably of natural products.

• Experience using statistical analysis tools to develop high-throughput data analysis tools.

• Experience in metabolomic sample prep, mass spectrometry analysis, and rigorous statistical data analysis o