Senior Experimental Officer (Bioanalytics)

The Role and Department 

The Department of Biosciences is composed of academic staff and research fellows with research and teaching interests that span the broad spectrum of the Biosciences. The Department studies biology from the smallest to the largest scales; from the structures and functions of biological molecules, through to cells, tissues and organisms and to the entire global ecosystem. The interests of academic staff include all types of living organisms, from bacteria, through the plant and animal kingdoms, to human health and disease.

The Department seeks to appoint an Experimental Officer providing Bioanalytics/metabolomics expertise in the Department of Biosciences, overseeing a metabolomic analytical infrastructure comprising state-of-the-art chromatography and mass spectrometry infrastructure.

The post holder will be responsible for the running of the bioanalytics facility and will work under an academic Facility lead, alongside an Experimental Officer in proteomics. The job will involve 1) the maintenance of the infrastructure and providing advice on its future development; 2) the extraction and analysis of a range of biological samples for staff and students; 3) training of postgraduate students and postdoctoral scientists in these techniques and 4) exchanging expertise with other mass spectrometry staff in the Faculty. The facility is currently equipped with a Sciex QTRAP 6500 mass spectrometer, linked to a Shimadzu Nexera X2 LC system; Shimadzu GC-MS, comprising a GC2010 and QP2010 Plus detector; Waters Acquity LC with photodiode array (PDA) and fluorescence detectors; and a Waters Acquity UPC² SFC system, with a PDA module and QDa mass detector.

What you need to demonstrate when you apply/Person Specification

Your application should cover the following criteria:

Essential Criteria

1. Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to develop excellent working relationships both internally and externally.
2. Proven IT skills, including use of Microsoft Office and programmes for mass spectrometry analysis.
3. PhD in a relevant subject discipline (physical or life sciences, computing).
4. Experience with the analysis of biological samples using LC/LC-mass spectrometry. At least some of that experience will have been acquired after the completion of a PhD.
5. Experience of being able to network effectively and develop strong and productive working relationships.
6. Experience of facilities and technical management in an academic or industrial context.
7. Ability to solve problems and resolve issues, plan solutions and make pragmatic decisions.
8. Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines, including health and safety.
9. Demonstrable ability to teach or train others with specific technical skills, and in the operation of scientific/technical equipment.

Desirable Criteria       

1. Evidence of continuing professional development required to maintain professional recognition.
2. Experience of implementing procedures and policies to improve or change a service area.
3. Experience using Desorption electrospray ionisation (DESI) sources to analyse biomolecules from plant, animal or microbial samples.

Advert information