Metabolomics Core Team Lead

About the role

The Duchossois Family Institute (DFI) was established in 2017 with the goal of enhancing human health by investigating the microbiome and its impact on the immune system. The DFI Microbiome Metabolomics facility (DFIMM) uses mass spectrometry-based methods to analyze metabolites with targeted and untargeted methods. This role manages scientific research projects or scientific research facilities, ensuring compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulatory policies. This individual will lead the metabolomics core workflow for targeted metabolomic projects and long-term quality control processes.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily maintenance and troubleshooting of laboratory equipment and instruments, including chromatography systems, mass spectrometers, liquid handlers, freezers, refrigerators, scales, water purifiers, and tube writers.
• Oversee both short-term and long-term procurement of laboratory supplies, such as authentic standards, solvents, and columns.
• Develop, implement, and maintain waste management plans for reagents, solvents, and other laboratory materials.
• Prepare and validate extraction solvents for use in targeted and untargeted analytical pipelines.
• Audit the project submission pipeline (LIMS) and collaborate with the Platform Director to prioritize and schedule project analyses.
• Perform analysis of quantitative and normalized relative abundance data for targeted projects using GC and LC-based methodologies.
• Provide supervisory leadership, including training and mentoring laboratory staff, assisting in the development of laboratory policies and procedures, and conducting risk assessments and risk management.
• Use subject matter and best practices knowledge to perform lab and/or research-related duties and tasks.
• Assist with project design and solve complex problems relating to the administration of projects.
• Guide data collection, evaluation, and analysis. Design and manage databases. Write reports, articles, and manuscripts. Present research findings at meetings and conferences, as well as to funding agencies. Conduct literature reviews.
• Develop and maintain liaisons and effective working relations with groups and individuals, agencies, and the public to encourage cooperative management strategies or to develop information and interpret findings.
• Perform other related work as needed.

Requirements

• College or university degree in related field.
• Knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Qualifications

• Education: College degree in chemistry, chemical engineering, bioengineering, biomedical engineering, biochemistry, biology, or related field.
• Experience: Experienced in managing LC-MS instrumentation. Successfully led targeted and/or untargeted data analysis projects. Proficient in developing quantitative measurements of small molecules using liquid and gas chromatography-coupled to mass spectrometers. Skilled in designing and executing targeted metabolomic analyses utilizing mass spectrometry. Experienced in troubleshooting LC/GC-MS systems to ensure optimal performance and data quality. Familiar with supporting infrastructure, including nitrogen generators, LIMS system, and liquid handlers. Experienced in untargeted metabolomics, including feature list generation and validation of fragmentation profiles.

Skills

• Demonstrated excellence in record keeping and organizational skills.
• Prioritized and managed multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills and ability to work collaboratively within a team.
• Advanced proficiency in chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques, including GC-MS and LC-MS.
• Comprehensive safety and regulatory training in chemical laboratory settings.
• Strong leadership experience for targeted or untargeted metabolomic projects.

Benefits

• Benefits Eligible Yes

Pay

$70,000.00 - $90,000.00