Research Professional, Metabolomics at The University of Chicago in Chicago, IL

Job description

Department BSD CCC - Metabolomics Platform About the Department ​The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center (UCCCC) is an integral component of the Biological Sciences Division (BSD). The BSD is the largest of four Divisions of the University and includes the Pritzker School of Medicine. UCCCC administers four established scientific programs, and the NCI-sponsored Cancer Center Support Grant provides funding for ten Shared Resources. The Comprehensive Cancer Center is comprised of over 190 faculty members from twenty departments with members currently being awarded over $47 million in total direct costs in peer-reviewed cancer research grants, and $28 million in non-peer reviewed grants and contracts. The activities of the Center are broad and varied, including research, training and education, communications, fundraising, marketing, clinical trials management and community outreach. UCCCC has one of the largest cancer clinical trials programs in the country and in the Chicago area with nearly 500 adult and pediatric therapeutic trials actively accruing patients. Many of these studies are investigator-initiated, including Phase I or I/II trials, demonstrating UCCCC commitment to translate basic research findings to the clinic through proof-of-principle and early phase studies. UCCCC opens over 250 new trials each year and accrues approximately 900 participants to therapeutic trials each year.​ Job Summary The job performs routine assignments that facilitate and promote a research project or contributes to the scientific direction of a research resource. Receives instruction, guidance, and direction from others. ​​​The Metabolomics Platform provides advanced mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, lipidomics and stable isotope tracing services to support basic, translational and clinical research. Under the direction of the Metabolomics Platform Director, this position supports day-to-day platform operations, including sample preparation, LC-MS analysis, data processing, quality control, method development, and interpretation of metabolomics and lipidomics data. The individual will work collaboratively with investigators, students, research staff, and other platform personnel and will contribute to the continued development and implementation of new analytical technologies and workflows.​​ Responsibilities Operates high-resolution LC-MS instrumentation and associated liquid chromatography systems for metabolite and lipid profiling, targeted quantification, and stable isotope tracing studies. ​Performs qualitative and quantitative analysis of metabolites and lipids using specialized mass spectrometry, metabolomics, and data-analysis software. ​Processes and evaluates LC-MS data, including peak detection and integration, metabolite identification/annotation, normalization, quality-control assessment, and statistical analysis. ​Prepares calibration standards, internal standards, stock solutions, extraction solvents, mobile phases, and other reagents required for LC-MS analyses. ​Performs routine instrument performance checks, system suitability testing, preventative maintenance, and troubleshooting of LC-MS and sample-preparation workflows. Identifies technical problems and assists in implementing corrective actions. ​Maintains detailed and accurate documentation of sample preparation, instrument methods, method development and optimization, quality-control procedures, experimental results, and data-analysis workflows. ​Assists with the development, validation, optimization, and implementation of new metabolomics and lipidomics methods to expand the analytical capabilities of the Platform. ​Supports stable isotope tracing and other specialized metabolomics experiments, including data processing and interpretation as appropriate. ​Assists investigators with interpretation and visualization of metabolomics and lipidomics results and contributes to the preparation of publication-quality figures, reports, manuscripts, present