Postdoctoral Research Associate - McDonnell Genome Institute

Washington University in St Louis • Forest Park, GA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Mass Spectrometry Technology Access Center (MTAC) at WashU Medicine, within the McDonnell Genome Institute, is seeking a postdoctoral associate to support proteomics and small-molecule research projects. The center is a recharge facility serving researchers regionally, nationally, and worldwide. The associate will work under center leadership and a faculty mentor, contributing to hypothesis-driven or discovery research and biomedical service projects in a team environment while also working independently. The immediate-start position focuses on untargeted and targeted metabolomics and lipidomics. The associate will use high-end Orbitrap and triple quadrupole mass spectrometers, multidimensional liquid chromatography, bioinformatics workflows, and related support equipment. Responsibilities include designing and executing research plans, analyzing and interpreting data, presenting findings, preparing reports, and contributing to collaborative manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals. The work is conducted in a laboratory with potential exposure to biological and chemical hazards; the associate must be able to wear protective equipment and provide standard care to research animals. Postdoctoral appointments at WashU have a five-year term limit, including previous postdoctoral experience.

Requirements

• Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent terminal or doctoral degree.
• Work effectively as both a leader and a follower in a team environment, and work diligently and independently toward research goals.
• Ability to wear protective equipment in a laboratory environment with potential biological and chemical hazards.
• Strong oral communication skills.
• No specific work experience, certification, professional license, or driver's license is required.

Nice To Haves

• Expertise in untargeted and targeted metabolomics or lipidomics.
• Prior experience in metabolomics or lipidomics applications.
• A demonstrated record of building robust untargeted analysis pipelines using multiple databases and an in-house library.
• Expertise developing quantitative targeted assays using the PRM method with Skyline or equivalent software.
• Familiarity with mass spectrometry, multidimensional liquid chromatography, bioinformatics workflows, and emerging small-molecule applications.
• Skills in collaboration, data analysis and interpretation, experimentation, laboratory operations and techniques, research, results reporting, scientific writing, and verbal and written communication.

Responsibilities

• Manage core projects, including sample preparation, execution, and data analysis.
• Design research experiments, assess findings, and compile comprehensive reports.
• Maintain instruments, develop new methods, and optimize existing methods.
• Keep meticulous records of procedures and research findings.
• Troubleshoot instruments and methods to improve outcomes.
• Deliver scientific presentations internally and externally.
• Interact professionally with collaborators and fellow research team members.
• Participate in the design and execution of research plans under center leadership.
• Analyze data and present interpretations in group meetings.
• Prepare manuscripts for collaborative publication in peer-reviewed journals.
• Contribute to presentations and report writing within the research center.
• Provide standard care to research animals.

Benefits

• The university offers a comprehensive and competitive benefits package; eligibility depends on employment status, full-time equivalent workload, and weekly standard hours.

What This Job Offers

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