Post Doctoral Scholar

The Ohio State University • Columbus, OH

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Health and Nutritional Metabolomics Laboratory at The Ohio State University seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Scholar for an American Heart Association-supported research program developing and applying advanced metabolomics and lipidomics technologies to human clinical trial research. The scholar will be jointly mentored by Dr. Chris Zhu and Dr. Colleen Spees, gaining expertise in translational metabolomics, nutrition science, and clinical research. The role is part of a multidisciplinary team investigating metabolic mechanisms underlying cardiometabolic diseases and other chronic health conditions through analyses of samples from human intervention and clinical studies.

The Zhu Laboratory applies targeted and untargeted metabolomics, lipidomics, mass spectrometry, systems biology, and bioinformatics to identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The Spees Laboratory specializes in clinical nutrition, dietary interventions, and patient-centered translational research. The initial appointment is two years, with renewal possible depending on funding and satisfactory performance. The expected start date is April 1, 2027. The position is located in Columbus, Ohio, at Campbell Hall (0018).

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Nutrition, Biomedical Sciences, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Strong background in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics and/or lipidomics.
• Experience with LC-MS analyses and quantitative bioanalytical methods.
• Demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed journals.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and contribute effectively within a collaborative team environment.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with human clinical trial samples.
• Experience in targeted and untargeted metabolomics workflows.
• Experience in lipidomics analyses and interpretation.
• Knowledge of bioinformatics and statistical tools, including R, MetaboAnalyst, Python, Cytoscape, or related software.
• Experience integrating omics data with clinical or dietary outcomes.
• Research experience in cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, obesity, diabetes, nutrition, inflammation, or related fields.
• Familiarity with systems biology and biomarker discovery approaches.

Responsibilities

• Conduct targeted and untargeted metabolomics analyses of human clinical trial samples.
• Perform comprehensive lipidomics profiling for biomarker discovery.
• Integrate metabolomics and lipidomics data with clinical, dietary, and physiological outcomes.
• Identify metabolic pathways associated with cardiovascular, metabolic, and chronic diseases.
• Develop and apply advanced LC-MS-based analytical methods.
• Use multi-omics data integration and systems biology approaches.
• Translate omics discoveries into clinically relevant applications.
• Contribute to collaborative research investigating metabolic mechanisms in cardiometabolic and other chronic health conditions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree