Are you an experienced Mass Spectrometry scientist? Do you have an established background in Mass Spectrometry? Do you want to further your career in one of the UKs leading research-intensive Universities? 

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced mass spectrometrist within the Faculty of Biological Sciences and the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology. The successful applicant will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the mass spectrometry research service and facility equipment and will be expected to provide expert advice and handle sample analyses for a wide range of users. The post presents opportunities for the development of analytical methods in support of biomolecular identification and structural elucidation across the range of research supported by the facility, including intact and native mass spectrometry, structural characterisation of proteins and complexes (e.g. using hydrogen-deuterium exchange and chemical crosslinking), protein identification and PTM mapping, metabolomics and quantitative proteomics.

Applicants should have a PhD or equivalent experience in chemistry, biochemistry or analytical science, together with considerable practice in mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry for the identification and structural elucidation of biomolecules. Good communications skills and the ability to correspond and communicate with a wide range of people is essential.

The Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology (ACSMB) in Leeds provides an outstanding environment in which to do this research. ACSMB is an interdisciplinary research hub focused on understanding life in molecular detail. ACSMB has >70 academic members, a grant portfolio of >£110m, and expertise in physics, chemistry, medicine and biology. ACSMB hosts state-of-the-art facilities for MS, cryo-EM, crystallography, NMR (including 950MHz), protein production, single molecule force spectroscopy, microscopy, biomolecular interactions and biophysics. ACSMB provides a vibrant environment for structural molecular and cellular biology, with experts in biophysics and structure, chemical biology, membrane biology, virology, enzymology and bioinformatics.

The Mass Spectrometry Facility provides an analytical service for the Faculty of Biological Sciences, the Astbury Centre, and other internal and external collaborators, including researchers who access facilities via the Instruct-ERIC pan-European research infrastructure, in addition to carrying out a considerable research programme in collaboration with academic staff.

The post involves using electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry at a high level of competency to analyse peptides, proteins, complexes, proteomics and metabolomics samples and other biologically important compounds. You will support the range of mass spectrometry modalities that are available in the facility, including peptide and protein MS, hydrogen-deuterium exchange, native MS, proteomics and metabolomics. You will provide an efficient analytical service for users of the Facility, performing analyses for users, give advice to others regarding sample preparation, experimental design and data interpretation, actively establish internal and external links with other research groups and industrial partners, develop new techniques for biomolecular analysis, write technical summaries and project reports, maintain the mass spectrometry and chromatography equipment in good working order, and perform other general laboratory duties.

The Mass Spectrometry Facility is located in a dedicated suite in the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology. There are seven mass spectrometers including:

Allied infrastructure for sample preparation and data analysis are also housed within the facility. 

Interviews likely to be held week commencing 3^rd July 2023.

To explore the post further or for any queries you may have, please contact: 

Prof. Frank Sobott, Chair in Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 1619 | Email: [email protected]

Dr Antonio Calabrese, Sir Henry Dale Fellow & University Academic Fellow

Tel: +44 (0)113 343 2576 | Email: [email protected]