Research Support Specialist - Temporary

Iowa State University - College of Design; United States; On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

The W.M. Keck Metabolomics Research Laboratory at Iowa State University - College of Design is seeking a Temporary Research Support Specialist to provide technical, analytical, and operational support for metabolomics and small molecule analysis projects.

The position emphasizes instrument maintenance, method development, onboarding, data analysis, and project coordination, with a focus on enhancing lab operations and analytical workflows in a fee-for-service core facility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, or related field.
• Experience working in a research or analytical laboratory environment.
• Experience with analytical instrumentation and associated software platforms.
• Experience with scientific data analysis, data management, or research workflows.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical, analytical, and operational support for metabolomics projects.
• Assist with instrumentation maintenance, method development, and onboarding.
• Coordinate high-priority projects and support data analysis and lab administration.
• Support analytical workflows and laboratory operations in a fee-for-service core facility.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Laboratory experience

Instrumentation experience

Data analysis workflows

Education

Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry/related field

Ph.D. in Biochemistry/related field (preferred)

Tools

GC-MS/LC-MS

HPLC

GC-FID

Job description

Position Title: Research Support Specialist - Temporary Appointment

Type: Professional & Scientific

Job Description: Summary of Duties and Responsibilities

The W.M. Keck Metabolomics Research Laboratory is seeking a Temporary Research Support Specialist to provide technical, analytical, and operational support for metabolomics and small molecule analysis projects. The position will assist laboratory staff with urgent instrumentation maintenance, high priority project coordination, data analysis, crucial method and platform devolvement and onboarding, and general laboratory operations as needed. The individual will support metabolomics research activities in a fee for service core facility using advanced analytical instrumentation. The position will help boost laboratory operations, improve analytical workflows, and expand laboratory capacity through method optimization, preventive maintenance, and operational improvements. This temporary position provides flexible support across instrumentation maintenance, analytical method development/onboarding, project coordination, data analysis, and laboratory administration. The role is designed to strengthen and recover laboratory operations while advancing new and existing analytical methodologies and improving overall laboratory efficiency. The individual will have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. They will also have effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, students, and external researchers.

Required Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Molecular Biology, Biology, Analytical Chemistry, Bioinformatics, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience working in a research or analytical laboratory environment.
• Experience with analytical instrumentation and associated software platforms.
• Experience with scientific data analysis, data management, or research workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Analytical Chemistry, Bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Experience operating, maintaining, troubleshooting, and optimizing analytical instrumentation, including GC-MS, HPLC, LC-MS, GC-FID, or related platforms.
• Experience processing, analyzing, and interpreting mass spectrometry or chromatography data.
• Experience with metabolomics, lipidomics, amino acid analysis, or related small-molecule analytical workflows.
• Experience supporting collaborative research projects and communicating technical findings to diverse scientific audiences.
• Experience developing, documenting, validating, or improving analytical methods and standard operating procedures.
• Experience with inventory management, laboratory operations, training, or user support in a shared or core research facility environment.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

Proposed Start Date: October 15, 2026

Number of Months Employed Per Year:

Time Type: Part time

Pay Grade: P&S Temporary

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. [phone], email [e-mail].

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications. Current employees (excluding temporary, student and graduate assistants) must apply through the Workday Internal Careers Hub.

By focusing on the future and providing the best student experience possible, Iowa State University attracts students and faculty who want to make a difference. With a comprehensive land-grant mission of education, research, extension and outreach, we produce scholars whose ideas change the world. And through Innovate at Iowa State, we provide innovative and entrepreneurial opportunities for students of all backgrounds. Located just 30 minutes north of Des Moines, the city of Ames was recently named one of the Top 10 cities in the U.S. for campus life and career opportunities. Iowa State University is a welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. Campus community members have a wide range of backgrounds and experiences and are committed to engaging with each other respectfully as outlined in the university's Principles of Community. Iowa State recognizes that diverse intellectual and philosophical perspectives are vital to innovation, critical thinking skills, and a dynamic academic community that foster the land-grant ideals of putting science, technology, and human creativity to work.

All offers of employment, oral and written, are contingent upon the university’s verification of credentials and other information required by federal and state law, ISU policies/procedures, and may include the completion of a background check and/or a consumer credit check. Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Veteran. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies may be directed to Office of Equal Opportunity, 2680 Beardshear Hall, 515 Morrill Road, Ames, Iowa 50011, Tel. [phone], email [e-mail].

Iowa State University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should email [e-mail] or call [phone] or Toll-Free: [phone]. TTY users are welcome to use the Iowa Relay Service number by dialing 7-1-1 or [phone].

General ISU compensation information can be found on the University Human Resources website. Please note that this is only a list of ranges and individuals will be paid commensurate with qualifications.