Research Associate in Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (10401)

Rosalind Franklin Institute

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. For more information on the Franklin’s Challenges click here. 

As part of the Integrated Chemical Imaging in Cells and Tissue Challenge, your role will be to develop mass spectrometry (MS) technologies that provide a comprehensive, spatially-resolved chemical view of whole tissues at near cellular resolution. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) has the best in spatial resolution of imaging MS techniques, but there are still challenges in obtaining a holistic picture of the molecular makeup of cells at a subcellular level. This role will work with cutting edge instrumentation and further develop this instrumentation towards tackling this challenge. 

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. 

Key Responsibilities

As a Research Associate you will:

• Develop new SIMS modalities for advanced sensitivity and spacial resolution. 
• Collaborate with biological and MS experts at the Franklin to optimise MSI conditions and methods for specific applications 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.
• Design, model and construct new modalities to enable subcellular chemical imaging.
• 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. 

Before submitting your application, please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role. 

This job description sets out the skills and experiences 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). 

How to Apply

To be considered for this role, please upload a CV and cover letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job (via the 'Apply' button above).

Closing date: The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 26th July 2026. 

Interviews will be held w/c 10th August 2026. 

PERIOD OF APPOINTMENT: Fixed-Term Contract (3 Years)