Research Associate in Native Ambient Mass Spectrometry (10400)

The Rosalind Franklin Institute; East Hagbourne; On-site; GBP 33,750 - 41,250; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holidays

Generous pension up to 18%

Group Life Assurance

Buying and Selling Annual Leave

Hybrid and flexible working

Training and development opportunities

Bus pass discount

Cycle to Work Scheme

Perkbox access

Health & wellbeing support

Subsidised canteen & campus dining

Free on-site parking

Campus in countryside with clubs

Job summary

The Rosalind Franklin Institute invites applications for a postdoctoral research associate to advance native ambient mass spectrometry imaging. You will develop tools for native MS, including nano-DESI, and integrate them with other structural biology techniques at Harwell.

Candidates should have a PhD and experience in at least two MS-related areas; you will collaborate with internal and external researchers to push imaging capabilities and deliver high-impact outputs.

Qualifications

• PhD/DPhil is required or candidates may be admitted with submitted thesis.
• Experience in at least two of native MS, top-down MS, MS imaging, ion source development or instrument development.

Responsibilities

• Develop new tools for native ambient mass spectrometry imaging.
• Design, model and construct new instrumentation to enable chemical imaging.
• Collaborate with MS and biology experts to optimise MSI conditions.
• Adapt to multi-modal instrumentation and integrate multiomic data.
• Investigate cutting-edge instrumentation to improve sensitivity and spatial resolution.
• Plan experiments, analyse results, and supervise outputs (reports, patents).
• Contribute to broader Franklin projects and Challenges.
• Lead major research outputs including papers and presentations.
• Support supervision of students or visitors and enable scientific independence.

Skills

Native ambient MS

Top-down MS

MS imaging

Ion source development

Instrument development

Education

PhD/DPhil in relevant field

Tools

NanoDESI

MS instrumentation

Job description

The Rosalind Franklin Institute (the Franklin) is a technology institute established by the UK Government as a unique centre committed to advancing tools that are needed to transform healthcare in the future.

The Institute brings together researchers in life and physical sciences, and engineering, to develop a spectrum of tools which we will use to image, interpret and intervene in biological systems. These insights will speed up the discovery of new medicines, help find new diagnostics and contribute to a deeper understanding of human health and disease. Our Science Strategy seeks to focus the Franklin’s research and unite our researchers around our Technology Innovation Challenges and Life Science Challenges.

We seek to recruit a postdoctoral research associate to undertake research in native ambient mass spectrometry imaging. The ideal candidate will have experience in at least two of the following: native mass spectrometry, top‑down mass spectrometry, mass spectrometry imaging, ion source development, instrument development.

As a Research Associate at the Franklin, you will bring scientific knowledge and skills to deliver a specific research project and/or you will bring independent, creative science, or specific skills to a team delivering a project or program. Through this work, you will build scientific independence, develop new science and leadership skills and establish a growing reputation externally.

In this role, you will be responsible for developing tools for native ambient mass spectrometry, including nano‑DESI and related techniques, and integration of NAMS with other structural biology techniques. You will collaborate closely with internal and external stakeholders to develop innovative solutions for improved mass spectrometry imaging of intact proteins and their assemblies in tissue and advancing integrative spatial and structural biology. The project will be hosted in the new Rosalind Franklin Institute facilities at Harwell but will also involve working with investigators across the Franklin, collaborator laboratories and with member institutes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop new tools for native ambient mass spectrometry imaging.
• Design, model and construct new instrumentation to enable chemical imaging.
• Collaborate with biological and MS experts at the Franklin to optimise MSI conditions and methods for specific collaborations and challenges.
• Adapt to working across multi‑modal instrumentation and collating multiomic and imaging data from diverse sources and scales.
• Investigate the use of cutting edge instrumentation to explore key scientific challenges such as sensitivity and spatial resolution.
• Plan and conduct experiments, analyse and interpret results and supervise delivery of outputs (e.g., research report, patent application) in a scientific or technology area of interest.
• Work within a project team, contributing to wider projects around Franklin's key Challenges.
• Lead major contributions to outputs from research including papers, patents and both internal and external presentations.
• Support and develop others including day‑to‑day supervision of students or visitors in areas related to own research.
• Have supervised, staged progression to first stages of scientific independence with opportunities to further develop science and skills/experience.
• Enhance your research through collaboration with other researchers and make active contributions to exchanging of ideas through your own network.
• Be able to understand, interpret, create and communicate appropriately within a research context.
• Develop search and discovery skills and techniques.
• Be supervised by a Scientist/Senior Scientist in delivery of research outputs, either in the context of a project or Challenge or as an early career development fellow.

Before submitting your application please ensure you read the Job Information Pack for full details of this role on our website.

This job description sets out the skills and experience we believe are needed to be able to do this job but, research also tells us women are much more likely than men to take this list of requirements as absolute and self‑select out of the process. If you think you can deliver this role then we want to hear from you, regardless of the boxes you did not tick.

Whilst the role requires candidates to hold a PhD/DPhil (or equivalent), we may consider candidates who have submitted their PhD/DPhil thesis, in which case the initial appointment will be made at £37,500 per annum (to be increased on completion of the PhD/DPhil qualification).

In return we offer:

• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays and Christmas holiday shutdown
• Generous pension scheme (employer’s contribution currently up to 18%)
• Group Life Assurance (also known as Group Life Insurance or Death in Service)
• Buying and Selling Annual Leave
• Workplace Nursery Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Hub building with state‑of‑the‑art laboratories
• Hybrid and flexible working
• Training and development opportunities for staff at all levels
• Bus pass discount scheme and good transport links to Oxford and surrounding areas
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Access to employee discount platform (Perkbox)
• Occupational Health and wellbeing support including Employee Assistance (24/7 support and counselling)
• Health Cash Plan
• Subsidised canteen and food outlets on campus
• Free on‑site parking
• Campus location in beautiful countryside with social and sports clubs open to staff

The Franklin’s underlying aim is to produce the best science for research today, and this means resolutely embracing a diverse team, who have a wide range of experiences, skills and knowledge to push forward on the innovative work our institution delivers. Both our work and our institution are better for it. For further information, view our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy.

We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where every applicant has an equal opportunity to showcase their talents and abilities. This includes making adjustments for candidates with specific needs. Please contact us at [e-mail] to discuss your requirements confidentially.

At the Rosalind Franklin Institute we also welcome applications from all around the world!

How to Apply

To be considered for this role, please upload a CV and cover letter explaining why you think you are the right person for this job. The link to apply is provided at the bottom of this page.

Closing date:

The closing date for applications is 23:59 on Sunday 26th July 2026.

Interviews will be held w/c 10th August 2026.