The Hoofnagle lab has an outstanding opportunity for a Research Scientist/Engineer 3. The person in this role will perform routine laboratory procedures and support research and development of analytical chemistry techniques to quantify proteins and small molecules in complex mixtures, including urine, serum, plasma, cell culture, blood spots, cerebral spinal fluid, and frozen and preserved tissues. One of the overarching goals of the Hoofnagle lab is development of reference method procedures for proteins in complex mixtures to serve as the gold standard for patient care and clinical research. This person will design and develop novel quantitative assays and perform routine testing that can be used to support clinical research studies. It is expected that these fundamental studies will lay the foundation for high-quality clinical assays in the future.

Responsibilities:
• Develop, validate, and implement new LC-MS assays to quantify proteins and small molecules from typical clinical chemistry sample types to expand understanding of the pathophysiology of different disease states.
• Characterize antibody and affinity reagents using a variety of biochemical techniques (e.g. SDS-PAGE, SE-HPLC, N-glycan profiling, peptide mapping, etc.).
• Independently perform a variety of laboratory techniques (e.g. affinity purification, tryptic digestion, solid-phase-extraction, HPLC-MS, ELISA, etc.).
• Perform established assays using targeted proteomics and metabolomics technologies for the sensitive and specific quantification of proteins and small molecules.
• Manage projects of moderate size and scope; initiate new projects, identify long- and short-term project goals, and design & prioritize experiments to determine feasibility of set objectives.
• Communicate with outside scientists in academia and industry to develop collaborative projects.
• Contribute, analyze, and present research data using summary graphs for publication and grant submission; present and update research progress at lab meeting or joined group settings.
• Optimize protocols and troubleshoot experiments as necessary to generate relevant data. Continuously evaluate existing methods with an eye toward improving data quality, reducing costs, and/or improving turn-around-time.
• Monitor assignments and projects to ensure they are completed within specified time frame; accommodate schedule changes to cooperatively accomplished required daily work.
• Perform work accurately and precisely; recognize, correct, and document errors when they occur.
• Maintain complete, accurate, legible records. Author, review, and revise SOPs and manuscripts for publication.
• Provide ongoing feedback and updates to supervisor/project coordinator and actively solicit input on overcoming roadblocks and impediments to success.
• Train new employees and guest technicians in experimental procedures and assays, instrument maintenance, laboratory safety, and general lab procedures.
• Perform routine instrument maintenance as well as troubleshooting; serve as point-of-contact with service engineers.
• Coordinate sample receiving/shipments with collaborators; assist with sample tracking, inventory maintenance, data entry, and database updating.
• Prepare and verify reagents; monitor and order supplies.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements:
Master’s degree in Life Sciences (including chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, etc.) and 5+ years of working experience. Previous experience with mass spectrometry is required.
Must be able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing.

Desired:
PhD degree in Life Sciences (including chemistry, biophysics, biochemistry, etc.) and 3+ years of relevant experience. The ideal candidate with have demonstrated the ability to think and work independently. They will have strong organizational skills and a keen attention to detail, be able to clearly express oneself both verbally and in writing, and have the capacity to carefully analyze the data they generate. It is also highly desirable that the applicant be comfortable working in a team environment, be able to manage their own workload effectively, be careful and fastidious, and have strong computer skills with a working knowledge of general MS Office applications.

Specific experience with the following techniques is highly desired:
• Proteomics, metabolomics, peptide mapping, and/or quantitative LC-MS assay development.
• Quality control, standard operating procedures, and method validation.
• Excellent writing skills as evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and participation in constructing funding applications.

To apply, please visit this link:
https://uwhires.admin.washington.edu/eng/candidates/default.cfm?szCategory=jobprofile&szOrderID=197136&szCandidateID=0&szSearchWords=Laboratory OR Medicine&szReturnToSearch=1

Hiring manager:
Michelle Emrick emrick@uw.edu