Research Fellow in Computational Metabolomics

Full time starting salary is normally in the range £36,130 to £45,413 with potential progression once in post to £48,149

Fixed Term contract up to August 2028

Background

We are seeking an innovative Research Fellow in Computational Metabolomics to join the Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ) and the School of Biosciences at the University of Birmingham. You will be working in a vibrant, interdisciplinary research ecosystem, driving cutting-edge research at the intersection of metabolomics, human health, and toxicology. This exciting role offers the opportunity to contribute to major EU-funded research programmes, including PrecisionTox and PARC (Partnership for the Assessment of Risks from Chemicals), in close collaboration with the Phenome Centre Birmingham. These programmes are advancing the science and practice of chemical risk assessment and informing next-generation regulatory frameworks to better protect human health and the environment from toxic substances.

Specifically, the post holder will develop, implement, and apply advanced computational tools and reproducible workflows to interrogate large-scale, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)-based comparative metabolomics datasets spanning a range of model organisms (e.g. Danio rerio, Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Daphnia magna, and others) and human cell lines. In addition, the role will involve the in-depth characterisation and annotation of these metabolomes using multistage fragmentation (MSⁿ) data, incorporating novel computational methods and strategies (e.g. spectral matching, network-based approaches, machine learning) where appropriate. The successful candidate will actively promote FAIR data practices and will have opportunities to contribute to teaching, training, and wider community engagement.

Research team: 

• The role is embedded within a diverse and interdisciplinary research environment comprising experienced scientists in toxicology and human health, analytical chemistry, software engineering, statistics, and bioinformatics. 

• The successful candidate will join a team with a strong track record in developing computational tools and informatics infrastructure for metabolomics applications in toxicology, and human and environmental health. 

• Close collaboration is expected with colleagues in the Phenome Centre Birmingham, as well as with national and international partners across academia and industry. 

Role Summary

• Develop, implement, and apply advanced reproducible computational tools and workflows to process, analyse, and interpret large-scale LC–MS-based comparative metabolomics datasets. These datasets, spanning a range of model organisms (e.g. Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, Daphnia magna, etc) and human cell lines, represent one of the world’s most comprehensive toxicological cross-species metabolomics resources. 

• Drive the in-depth computational characterisation and annotation of metabolomes across diverse model organisms and human cell lines, using multistage fragmentation (MSⁿ) data and computational methods and approaches (e.g. spectral matching, network-based approaches, and machine learning techniques, etc). 

• Design and apply robust statistical analysis strategies to uncover biologically meaningful patterns from complex metabolomics datasets, support hypothesis testing, and enable cross-species comparisons of metabolic responses to chemical exposures or other perturbations. 

Person Specification

• PhD (awarded or near completion) or equivalent experience in computational or mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, bioinformatics, or a related discipline.

Informal enquiries can be made to Ralf Weber, r.j.weber@bham.ac.uk

To download the full job description and details of this position and submit an electronic application online please click on the Apply Online button:

https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/7289/?utm_medium=jobshare&utm_source=External+Job+Share  

Valuing excellence, sustaining investment
We value diversity and inclusion at the University of Birmingham and welcome applications from all sections of the community and are open to discussions around all forms of flexible working

Advert information