Technical Specialist: Metabolomics & Lipidomics Mass Spec

King’s College London seeks a Technical Specialist in metabolomics and lipidomics mass spectrometry to join its new Smart Trials Hub, a multi-omics centre at Guy’s Campus. Explore more dementia research jobs.

About us

King’s Smart Trials Hub (STH) is a globally distinctive multi-omics centre, located at Guy’s Hospital Campus within Research Infrastructure, part of Research Management and Innovation Directorate at King’s College London.

The Hub brings together state-of-the-art spatial and non-spatial ‘omics’ technologies to enable full molecular profiling of cells, tissues and liquid biopsies and leverages advanced, multi-modal technologies to investigate disease biology at high resolution, supporting the equitable development of personalised therapies.

About the role

We are seeking a Technical Specialist in metabolomics & lipidomics mass spectrometry to join the newly established Smart Trials Hub (STH) at King’s College London. The STH is a globally distinctive multi-omics centre within King’s Research Infrastructure department, based at the Guy’s Hospital campus. It leverages advanced, multi-modal technologies to investigate disease biology at high resolution, supporting the equitable development of personalised therapies.

The role holder will be part of an exciting, highly collaborative and inclusive team and deliver cutting-edge mass spectrometry-based metabolomic and lipidomic research.

The role will focus on sample preparation and extraction from complex biological sample types, encompassing experimental design, analytical method development for targeted and targeted analytes, LC-MS platform operation of high-resolution Orbitrap Tribrid mass spectrometers and computational data analysis methods. Reporting directly to the Smart Trials Hub manager, you will be required to work in close collaboration with a multidisciplinary team to deliver a research output of the highest standard to academic researchers and commercial customers, contributing to a wide range of research programmes

This is a full-time post (35 hours per week), and you will be offered an indefinite contract. This is an onsite, facility-based role and the post holder is expected to be on campus for the full working week.

About you

To be successful in this role, we are looking for candidates to have the following skills and experience:

Essential criteria

1. MSc qualified in chemistry, life sciences or relevant subject area, or equivalent experience gained in a research setting.
2. Practical experience with Orbitrap mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography equipment, including method development, sample preparation and troubleshooting
3. Demonstrable expertise in data analysis and interpretation of lipids and metabolites using Trace Finder, Lipid Search and Compound Discoverer
4. Experience working to health and safety, quality and research integrity standards within a laboratory or research environment, with a strong commitment to accurate record keeping, data quality, reproducibility and attention to detail
5. Ability to communicate technical and scientific information clearly in written reports, presentations and discussions to a range of audiences (technical and non-technical)
6. Experience working effectively within multidisciplinary research teams, building positive and effective working relationships with colleagues, researchers and service users, and contributing to the successful delivery of shared objectives
7. Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage own workload effectively, and prioritise competing demands across multiple projects to meet deadlines and deliver high-quality outcomes
8. Experience providing training, guidance and technical support to colleagues or users in mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography techniques

Desirable criteria

1. Experience with automated sample preparation and robotic liquid handling
2. Knowledge of advanced fragmentation methods (e.g. UVPD, ETD)
3. Experience with large clinical cohort studies

Downloading a copy of our Job Description

Full details of the role and the skills, knowledge and experience required can be found in the Job Description document, provided at the bottom of the page. This document will provide information of what criteria will be assessed at each stage of the recruitment process.

Further Information

At King’s, we believe that the diversity of our community and a culture that is welcoming, open, inclusive and collaborative, are great strengths of the university.

The Equality Act of 2010 protects the rights of our students and staff and provides a framework to fulfil our duties to eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and in addition, to advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between those who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. At times, this will include balancing rights and beliefs that can feel in tension.

We are committed to free speech and to academic freedom, believing that our foundational purpose as a university, is to create spaces where a wide range of ideas, including ideas that are controversial, can be discussed and debated, and where members of our community can express lawful views without fear of intimidation, harassment or discrimination.

When engaging in the robust exchange of ideas, we ask that our community is mindful of our Dignity at King’s guidance.

We ask all candidates to submit a copy of their CV, and a supporting statement, detailing how they meet the essential criteria listed in the person specification section of the job description. If we receive a strong field of candidates, we may use the desirable criteria to choose our final shortlist, so please include your evidence against these where possible.

We reserve the right to close adverts early due to the volume of applications we receive. While the closing date may change, all adverts will close at 23:59 to allow sufficient time for applications to be submitted on that day.

We encourage you to apply at the earliest opportunity to avoid disappointment as once we have closed a vacancy you will be unable to submit your application.

To find out how our managers will review your application, please take a look at our ‘How we Recruit’ pages.

Contact details: Steven Lynham, Steven.lynham@kcl.ac.uk