Senior Scientist - LC-MS Assay Development

CK Group are recruiting for a lab-based Senior Scientist specialising in LC-MS Assay Development to join a precision medicine company based near Manchester.

Company:

Our client is developing next-generation diagnostic tests to help clinicians prescribe the right drug, for the right patient, at the right time. They are developing LC-MS proteomic biomarker discovery platforms and clinical assays to predict drug response in a clinical setting.

The Role:

Development of clinically applicable targeted assays

• Develop targeted LC-MS methods on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer to accurately and robustly quantify phosphopeptide biomarkers arising from the company's R&D work.
• Devise strategies for normalisation and quality control to ensure tests are accurate, reproducible and reliable and to ensure we adhere to the relevant quality standards.
• Work with the product development team and quality manager to ensure appropriate systems, monitoring and documentation is in place during development of a test which can ultimately be relied upon to aid patient treatment decision making.
• Author and/or contribute to regulatory submissions, technical protocols and reports.

General LC-MS/MS operation and maintenance

• Work with the Mass Spectrometry Technical Lead to ensure that LC-MS/MS systems are regularly maintained and calibrated, that all buffers are properly prepared and regularly replaced, and to ensure that the proper Quality Control samples are run, and robust checks are in place.
• Outputs of all maintenance, calibrations, QC work are to be documented for reporting purposes.
• To make process improvements and project efficiencies wherever possible and to contribute freely to the team environment in a manner conducive to the success of company goals.

Your Background:

• PhD (or equivalent experience) in a relevant or STEM based subject.
• ≥2 years of hands-on experience running/operating high-end LC-MS/MS systems (including hands-on experience calibrating the MS systems, basic maintenance of LC-MS/MS, renewing buffers, running QCs, interpreting data, and reporting QC outputs).
• Specific experience running triple quadrupole mass spectrometers and developing targeted methods.
• Expertise developing clinical assays utilising LC-MS/MS proteomic technologies.
• Experienced interrogating LC-MS/MS raw data using vendor software (e.g., Thermo’s Xcalibur/Freestyle/Chromeleon, or SciexOS).
• Excellent organisational skills and time management skills.
• A high degree of personal motivation and a willingness to learn new skills, take on challenges and undertake relevant training.

Desirable:

• Experience with quality management systems and documentation.
• Experience in developing and validating mass spec instrumentation and methods.
• Experience working to ISO 15189, CLIA or working in a similar regulated environment.
• Knowledge of medical device design control processes.
• Experienced in preparing samples using proteomic workflows for LC-MS/MS analysis.
• Knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles of biochemical and molecular biological systems.
• Expertise in the utilisation of LC-MS/MS proteomic technologies for the identification and validation of clinical biomarkers.

Apply:

It is essential that applicants hold entitlement to work in the UK. Please quote job reference 105400 in all correspondence.