Postdoctoral Fellow, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

UTMB Health • Galveston, TX

1d

About The Position

The Postdoctoral Fellow conducts, reports, and presents research in their field under the supervision of a faculty mentor. This is a training position and is not expected to be permanent. The fellow independently designs, organizes, and conducts specialized and advanced experiments using established scientific procedures and, when needed, develops new protocols. The role includes summarizing findings, publishing results, overseeing general scientific operations of the laboratory, and guiding junior technicians, students, and researchers.

The position focuses on developing, optimizing, and validating LC-MS/MS workflows for glycoproteomics and glycopeptidomics, including sample preparation, enrichment, chromatographic separation, instrument acquisition, and data analysis. The fellow establishes research objectives and methods, conducts research and service-development projects, interprets analytical data, and develops procedures and quality documentation to support reproducible mass spectrometry facility services. The role also involves applying targeted and discovery LC-MS/MS methods to characterize glycans and site-specific glycopeptides; collaborating with investigators on experimental design, analysis, manuscripts, and grant applications; training facility users and research personnel; and operating and maintaining relevant mass spectrometry and chromatography equipment. The fellow reviews emerging technologies, may publish and present research, may contribute to facility proposals, and follows applicable laboratory safety, data-integrity, and institutional requirements.

Requirements

• Ph.D., M.D., or doctoral equivalent in any field.
• Scientific research experience.
• Knowledge of analytical chemistry, biochemistry, mass spectrometry, glycomics, glycoproteomics, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience with LC-MS/MS method development, biological sample preparation, chromatography, and quantitative or discovery workflows.
• Ability to analyze complex data, troubleshoot analytical workflows, document methods, and communicate results clearly.
• Technical, problem-solving, data-analysis, collaboration, and communication skills.

Nice To Haves

• Ph.D. in chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated research experience in glycomics, glycoproteomics, or glycopeptidomics.
• Experience with high-resolution MS, Orbitrap or ion-trap platforms, triple-quadrupole MS, nanoLC/UHPLC, PRM/MRM, and glycopeptide enrichment or separation.
• Experience with Skyline, Byonic, Proteome Discoverer, PEAKS GlycanFinder, MultiGlycan, or related software.
• Peer-reviewed publication record and experience training students or research personnel.
• Experience with SOP-aligned laboratory practices, quality control, method robustness, and reproducibility.
• Specialized expertise in glycan or glycopeptide characterization, which may support project-specific lead responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Develop, optimize, and validate LC-MS/MS workflows for glycoproteomics and glycopeptidomics, including sample preparation, enrichment, chromatographic separation, acquisition, and analysis.
• Establish research objectives and methodology and design procedures requiring advanced technical skill.
• Conduct research and service-development projects and analyze and interpret data.
• Define analytical problems and evaluate solutions for research or facility projects.
• Develop standard operating procedures, quality-control criteria, reference materials, and documentation to transition workflows into reproducible mass spectrometry facility services.
• Apply targeted and discovery LC-MS/MS approaches, including PRM and high-resolution mass spectrometry, to characterize glycans and site-specific glycopeptides.
• Implement and evaluate glycoproteomics data-analysis pipelines and communicate results to the principal investigator, facility leadership, and collaborators.
• Work with investigators on experimental design, sample requirements, analytical strategy, data interpretation, manuscripts, and grant applications.
• Train research staff, students, postdoctoral fellows, and facility users in sample preparation, instrumentation, data analysis, and quality practices.
• Operate, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot mass spectrometry and chromatography equipment used in assigned projects.
• Review scientific literature and evaluate emerging technologies that could expand facility capabilities.
• Publish and present research as an author or co-author, as applicable, and contribute to equipment, renovation, training, or facility/core enhancement proposals, as applicable.
• Identify appropriate internal controls and follow laboratory safety, data-integrity, and institutional requirements.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Conduct, report, and present research under a faculty mentor; summarize findings and publish results in research journals.
• Assume general responsibility for scientific laboratory operations and provide supervision and guidance to junior technicians, students, and researchers.

What This Job Offers

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