Head of Proteomics LMS 2637

Medical Research Council; London; On-site; GBP 61,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

The Medical Research Council seeks a Head of Proteomics to lead their London laboratory's mass spectrometry efforts. This role involves developing a state-of-the-art facility, overseeing research collaborations, and training staff, all contributing to cutting-edge biomedicine. The candidate will join a world-class team dedicated to advancing scientific understanding.

Benefits

Pension scheme

30 days holiday + bank holidays

Family friendly policies

Professional registration opportunities

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in biological mass spectrometry.
• Proven research demonstrated through publications.
• Experience in interdisciplinary collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team in the Proteomics Facility.
• Develop mass spectrometry capabilities.
• Train staff and supervise facility operations.

Skills

Creativity

Independent working

Education

PhD in a relevant biological subject

Job description

View Vacancy -- Head of Proteomics LMS 2637

Open Date

11/06/2025, 10:00

Close Date

06/07/2025, 23:55

Research Institute

MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences

Research Institute / Unit Information

The LMS is a world-class research laboratory (https://lms.mrc.ac.uk/) where scientists and clinicians collaborate to advance the understanding of biology and its application to medicine. Funded by the MRC (https://mrc.ukri.org/) as part of UK Research and Innovation (https://www.ukri.org/about-us/work-forus/working-at-ukri/benefits-of-working-forukri/), the LMS has a collaborative working culture and new state-of-the-art building based in the heart of West London in the Hammersmith Hospital Campus (Wl2).

The LMS aims to deliver transdisciplinary team science, in synergistic interaction with Imperial College and the wider national research environment. Part of achieving this, is to recruit new talent and support postdoctoral scientists to become world leaders in their area of science.

UK Research and Innovation is a new entity that brings together nine partners to create an independent organisation with a strong voice for research and innovation, more information can be found at

Band

MRC - 2

Location

London

Salary

£61,661 - £74,448 and London Allowance £5,385 per annum

Contract Type

Permanent

Job Type

Science

Full Time / Part Time

Full Time

Job Description

Overall purpose:

The aim of the post is to ensure research at the MRC Laboratory of Medical Sciences (LMS) is supported by state-of-the-art technology and expertise in proteomics. The post holder will lead a team of scientists in the Proteomics Facility. Using world class mass spectrometry resources, the post-holder will work collaboratively with research groups throughout the LMS to support their studies. In addition, the post-holder will be responsible for maintaining and developing cutting-edge techniques and approaches required to carry out proteomics-based research within the Institute, providing a high-quality service to all users including appropriate support and training.

Main duties:

Responsible for developing a long-term strategy for providing world-class mass spectrometry based proteomic capabilities at the LMS.

To maintain and run a state-of-the-art Proteomics Facility, which meets the needs of the LMS, including a service to users.

To work collaboratively with other research groups in the LMS in addressing major research questions. This will often involve work at the cutting edge of the technology, where high level technical expertise in proteomics is required and the post holder will be expected to bring skill and rigour to their part of the collaboration to match the input from the collaborators on the biological problem under investigation.

To supervise the efficient operation of the Proteomics Facility. This will involve line management of 2 to 3 members of staff, including the provision of training in sample preparation, instrument maintenance and operation and data processing and analysis. The post holder will be expected to oversee the quality of the service, its cost effectiveness and the appropriate use of its resources.

To train students, postdoctoral scientists and others in the use of proteomic techniques, sample preparation, data analysis, and appropriate experimental design.

Be responsible for the development of new methods and implementation of existing methods and protocols within the facility. Develop and maintain suitable data processing and data analysis workflows using either open-source software, commercial software packages or in-house developed custom scripts.

To keep up-to-date with developments in the field, proposing or implementing changes of direction within the laboratory as necessary. This can include new techniques, new analytical tools, and new instrumentation. Make recommendations on the purchase of equipment, determining what is required for the LMS and sourcing and investigating options with full consideration for the cost effectiveness of different solutions.

Continuing professional development in the fields of biological mass spectrometry and proteomic analysis e.g. attending scientific meetings and keeping abreast of the relevant literature.

Contribute as a senior scientist within the LMS to the Institute's aims for public engagement and translation and exploitation, recognising opportunities for the creation of intellectual property and co-operating in patent protection and exploitation.

Key responsibilities:

To ensure the LMS has cutting edge facilities in proteomics-based mass spectrometry, developing and applying novel approaches and techniques in the field.

To maintain a broad, balanced and informed perspective of current scientific issues especially those pertaining directly to the area of proteomics.

To undertake cutting edge research, aimed at key questions within the remit of the LMS, providing the intellectual energy and independent thinking necessary to deliver the research and to play a major role in shaping the overall aims and success of the facility.

To ensure all proteomics research involving mass spectrometry within the Institute is conducted in accordance with good practice and in compliance with local policies and legal requirements.

To train others in the use of the methodology and equipment.

To be responsible for all aspects of line management of members of the Proteomics Facility, including recruitment, development and performance management in accordance with the MRC's policies and procedures.

To contribute to the writing of scientific papers and to present at internal and external meetings.

To disseminate research findings both within the Institute and externally in the form of publications, presentations, and reports and thus support the mission of the LMS.

To contribute to the MRC's engagement with the public and in the translation and exploitation of research findings into improvements in health care.

To balance the different aspects of the role.

Working relationships:

The Facility Head will be responsible to the Director/Head of Operations, via the Academic Advisors, for management of resources allocated to the Proteomics Facility, including financial and people management.

Person Specification

Education / Qualifications / Training required (will be assessed from the application):

Essential:

• PhD in a relevant biological subject

Desirable:

• Trained in use of instruments in the LMS Proteomics Facility. Ability to perform trouble shooting and straightforward maintenance of standard instruments

Previous work experience required (will be assessed from the application and at the interview:

Essential:

• Extensive experience in biological mass spectrometry including significant practical involvement in proteomics. This will have included several years of post-doctoral experience in proteomics
• Proven ability in proteomics-based mass spectrometry, developing methodology, and applying the technique to cutting edge biological problems
• Proven research demonstrated through publications and presentations at meetings.
• Evidence for successful and relevant scientific collaborations
• Experience of working in an interdisciplinary environment, collaborating with computational scientists to meet proteomics analysis needs
• Experience of running a service and marrying this with other collaborative research programmes

Desirable:

• Experience in fields relevant to the LMS
• Experience of team leadership, including motivation of staff, performance management, employee development and delegation

Knowledge and experience (will be assessed from the application and at the interview:

Creativity, initiative and independent working

Essential:

• Capacity to design and lead a research project, choose the best approaches, and rigorously analyse results
• Ability to design new methods or variations of existing methods to solve previously unencountered problems
• Extensive knowledge of procedures for the identification and quantification of proteins

Desirable

• Evidence of initiating and sustaining collaborations with other research groups across a range of disciplines in biology

Verbal and written communication skills

Essential:

• Considerable experience in presenting scientific work, both written and orally
• Significant publication record, including first author and/or senior author publications in relevant field

Personal Skills / Behaviours / Qualities (will be assessed at the interview):

Essential:

• Ability to think creatively and to innovate, to build relationships with LMS scientists with diverse interests, to prioritise and manage competing demands, to set clear goals and objectives
• Ability to maximise resources available and ensure efficient operation of the facility

Further Information

Mass spectrometry is technically very demanding, requiring an extensive understanding of the methodology, the implications of different approaches, an ability to analyse complex data and assess what it means. In this role the post holder will be working with a wide range of collaborators with very different research projects, and there will be a need to understand the biological problems sufficiently to be able to contribute as an equal partner in pursuing the research problem.

The post holder will be expected to combine several roles working collaboratively with others, and leading a service. These are likely to come into conflict, in terms of use of machine time or technical resources, and these conflicts will need to be managed so that best use is made of skills and facilities, and so that individual research projects are not unduly favoured, or neglected.

Applicants should submit a CV, names and contacts of two scientific references along with a cover letter stating why you are applying for this role (providing evidence against the requirements of the job as per the job description and person specification). Applications without a cover letter will not be accepted. Please quote reference number LMS 2637.

Applications which do not provide a cover letter will not be considered.

This role qualifies for endorsement by UKRI for a UK Global Talent Visa, for which the successful applicant is likely to be eligible to apply. We will also reimburse the cost of visa application (terms and conditions apply).

Please note that applications may be reviewed by both LMS and Imperial staff

The MRC is a unique working environment where scientific researchers and professional support staff can actively partake in world class innovation and collaboration opportunities and their skills and knowledge through accessing a wide catalogue of training & development, including professional registration with the Science Council.

In addition, MRC (part of UKRI) provides its community of employees access to a whole host of useful benefits, including a defined benefit pension scheme and excellent holiday entitlement (30 days plus 2.5 privilege days & 8 bank holidays), family friendly policies (6 months full pay maternity & adoption leave), a range of shopping/travel discounts, access to our Employee Assistant Programme Scheme, Health and Wellbeing Support and a salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. Please follow this link to find out more -

Our success is dependent upon our ability to embrace diversity and draw on the skills, understanding and experience of all our people. We warmly invite people from diverse backgrounds and heritage, including people who identify as having a disability, to apply for a role that excites them. As "Disability Confident" employers, we guarantee to interview all applicants who have disclosed they have a disability and who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy.

UKRI supports research in areas that include animal health, agriculture and food security, and bioscience for health which includes research on animals, genetic modification and stem cell research. Whilst you may not have direct involvement in this type of research, you should consider whether this conflicts with your personal values or beliefs.

We will conduct a full and comprehensive pre-employment check as an essential part of the recruitment process on all individuals that are offered a position with UKRI. This will include a security check and an extreme organisations affiliation check. The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

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