Staff Scientist - Metabolomics

University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago’s Duchossois Family Institute - Metabolomics invites applications for an experienced researcher to support a CLIA/CAP clinical lab, focusing on mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, data analysis, and publication-quality work.

You will collaborate with internal teams and external partners on study design, develop and validate assays, maintain LC-MS and GC-MS instruments, ensure safety, and contribute to manuscripts and grants.

Qualifications

• PhD in related field required.
• 2–5 years of work experience in a related discipline.
• Experience with mass spectrometry-based metabolomics in CLIA/CAP-regulated environments.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal teams, academic/industry partners, and UChicago clinical staff on study design and data interpretation.
• Maintain and troubleshoot LC and GC-MS instruments; perform targeted and untargeted metabolomics experiments.
• Support structural elucidation of unknown compounds; contribute to data analysis, visualizations, and manuscripts as needed.
• Develop quantitative same-day blood and fecal assays for a CLIA/CAP clinical lab.
• Author SOPs covering sample handling, data collection, QC validation, and instrumentation logs; maintain reagents, solvents, calibrators, and QC materials.
• Enforce BSL-2 and chemical safety protocols; execute daily sample testing and data reporting for clinical trials; coordinate sample logistics and results communication with clinical and DFI teams.
• Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis; contributes to facilitating and promoting a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.
• Reviews laboratory protocols and training on new techniques; manage complex data sets for research.
• Leads the contributions to scientific writing and publications, including protocols and grants.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Skills

Mass spectrometry

Metabolomics

Data analysis

Multidisciplinary collaboration

SOP development

Education

PhD in related field

Tools

LC-MS

GC-MS

Job description

About The Department

The Duchossois Family Institute (DFI) studies how the microbiome influences susceptibility to infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. Using a multi-omic approach and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, the DFI identified and characterizes gut metabolites to understand microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions. The team supports the University of Chicago and external researcher through experimental design, custom analyses, and data visualization, while also developing rapid, same-day quantitative assays to help clinicians assess gut microbiome health in clinical settings.

Department

BSD DFI - Metabolomics

About The Department

The Duchossois Family Institute (DFI) studies how the microbiome influences susceptibility to infectious, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. Using a multi-omic approach and mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, the DFI identified and characterizes gut metabolites to understand microbe-microbe and host-microbe interactions. The team supports the University of Chicago and external researcher through experimental design, custom analyses, and data visualization, while also developing rapid, same-day quantitative assays to help clinicians assess gut microbiome health in clinical settings.

The DFI partners with The University of Chicago Advanced Technology (UCAT) Laboratory, a CLIA-licensed, CAP-accredited clinical lab within the Department of Pathology specializing in liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Together, they develop, validate, and deliver same-day, mass spectrometry-based diagnostics that translate microbiome science into actionable patient care.

Job Summary

The job facilitates and promotes a research project or contributes to the scientific direction of a research resource. Receives a moderate level of guidance and direction.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with internal teams, academic/industry partners, and UChicago clinical staff on study design and data interpretation.
• Maintain and troubleshoot LC and GC-MS instruments; perform targeted and untargeted metabolomics experiments.
• Support structural elucidation of unknown compounds; and contribute to data analysis, visualizations, and manuscripts as needed.
• Develop quantitative same-day blood and fecal assays for a CLIA/CAP clinical lab.
• Author SOPs covering sample handling, data collection, QC validation, and instrumentation logs; maintain reagents, solvents, calibrators, and QC materials.
• Enforce BSL-2 and chemical safety protocols; execute daily (Mon–Fri) sample testing and data reporting for clinical trials; and coordinate sample logistics and results communication with clinical and DFI teams.
• Serves as a resource for collecting data and performing analysis. Contributes to facilitating and promoting a research project by providing scientific or intellectual information.
• Reviews laboratory protocols and training on new techniques. Manage complex data sets for research.
• Leads the contributions to scientific writing and publications, including protocols and grants.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Work Experience

Minimum requirements include a PhD in related field. Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Experience

• Spearheaded mass spectrometry-based metabolic quantitation withing a CLIA/CAP regulated environment, ensuring rigorous compliance with clinical quality standards and method validation requirements.
• 3+ years of hands‑on expertise across the full MS data spectrum – targeted, untargeted, and quantitative workflows – to drive actionable insights and support high-throughput analytical pipelines.
• Established track record analyzing microbially derived metabolites across complex biological systems, with focused in gut microbiome metabolomics from both human and murine models.

Preferred Competencies

• End‑to‑end proficiency in GC-MS and LC-MS analytical pipelines across targeted and untargeted metabolomic workflows, from method development and sample preparation through data acquisition, analysis, and reporting; including experience with complex biological matrices and CLIA/CAP-regulated environments.
• Proven ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams and communicate complex data clearly to diverse scientific and clinical audiences.
• Detail‑oriented and deadline‑driven, with rigorous record‑keeping practices and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously without sacrificing quality.

Working Conditions

• BSL-2 Laboratory environment.
• Physically capable of moving, connecting, and disconnecting gas cylinders that can weigh up to 200 pounds.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (preferred)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Family

Research

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

40

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

Yes

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

FLSA Status

Exempt

Pay Range

$70,000.00 - $90,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case‑by‑case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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