SCIENCE Mass Spectrometry Imaging specialist at Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Section for Plant Biochemistry

We are looking for a Mass Spectrometry Imaging Specialist to work on MALDI-MSI of plant tissues in The Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Section for Plant Biochemistry, at Faculty of Science, the University of Copenhagen. The start date is August 1 2024, and the position is for two years.

About us

The position is funded by a Novo Nordisk Foundation infrastructure grant awarded to Associate Professor Nanna Bjarnholt to establish a facility, PlantMSI, for Mass Spectrometry Imaging of plant tissues. The facility is hosted by the Section for Plant Biochemistry where we work broadly with the specialized metabolism and biochemistry of plants, and also have an established metabolomics platform with 10 XC-MS instruments. The section is comprised of seven research groups with a total of 90-100 people of diverse cultural and national backgrounds, ranging from students across young researchers and technicians to faculty. We have a diverse portfolio of research projects and work on a highly diverse array of plant species and metabolites, internally and with our collaborators from the department, faculty, university and global plant science community. In the PlantMSI facility and the section’s metabolomics platform, we collaborate and share knowledge with other departmental metabolomics platforms with different scopes as well as the Center for Advanced Bioimaging at University of Copenhagen.

Job description

The successful candidate will work closely with PI Nanna Bjarnholt on establishing and developing workflows and methodologies for MSI of plant tissues and metabolites. The MSI specialist will be the main driver of all practical aspects of sample preparation, MSI analysis and data analysis. Our work will be mainly based on collaborations with other plant scientists with diverse projects, and the MSI specialist will work closely with our collaborators in planning of experiments, harvesting of samples, test runs etc. We will also be working with facility driven projects for method development and tests of challenging sample types, where the MSI specialist will to some extent be in charge of the plant growth and experiments. The facility currently holds a Bruker timsTOF-fleX MALDI-2 with microGRID and elute HPLC, as well as a sublimator S1 and TM sprayer from HTX. The MSI specialist will be in charge of operating these instruments as well as their daily maintenance, and potentially any new instruments that may be acquired for PlantMSI. The MSI specialist also interacts closely with the staff of the metabolomics platform about LC-MS method development and instrument maintenance. The MSI specialist will be affiliated with the research group for Plant Metabolic Plasticity headed by Nanna Bjarnholt and take part in research group meetings and internal seminars as well as disseminate PlantMSI results and progress at user meetings, symposia and conferences.

We offer a highly stimulating international and dynamic work environment, characterized by open interactions and knowledge sharing. The MSI specialist will have the opportunity to expand knowledge and network via participation in international conferences, courses and workshops. Furthermore, the right candidate will have a direct influence on their everyday work life, the selection and management of collaborative projects and the overall development of the PlantMSI facility.

Qualifications

We are looking for a person with a PhD or similar qualifications within a relevant branch of plant science or analytical chemistry, and with extensive experience and knowledge within MALDI-MSI of plants. The ideal candidate furthermore has experience with some of or all instruments in the PlantMSI facility. Experience with plant cultivation, plant metabolism research and targeted and/or untargeted plant metabolomics will also be favorable. In addition, the candidate should:

• Be fluent in spoken and written English
• Have an analytical and innovative mindset and be motivated by method development
• Enjoy interacting and collaborating with scientists and students at all levels and with diverse backgrounds
• Be service minded towards collaborators and facility users and be comfortable working with deadlines
• Be able to manage multiple different projects and collaborations in parallel
• Be skilled and comfortable in giving oral presentations and engaging in scientific dissemination

Terms of salary and employment

The employment and salary is made in accordance with the Circular on the Collective Agreement concerning academics in the state sector concluded between the Ministry of Finance and AC (the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations).

Employment will be as special consultant. Negotiation for salary supplement is possible. The working time is 37 hours per week on average. The working hours are flexible following agreement with the PI.

UCPH is in the process of designing a new shared administrative organisation at UCPH, which is expected to lead to changes within the next 12 - 18 months. The purpose of the administrative reform is, among other things, to strengthen cross-organisational cooperation, increase efficiency, and ensure good career paths for administrative staff members at UCPH. The reform will lead to cutbacks on administration. You are encouraged to contact Nanna Bjarnholt on 35 33 11 36 to learn more about the connection between this position and the administrative reform.

Your application

If you find the job interesting, please send an electronic application with attachment (CV, education certificate ect.) via Jobportalen (click on the link "Apply Now" at the bottom of the post) no later than 11 June 2024.

Interviews will take shortly thereafter.

The University of Copenhagen seeks to reflect society and encourages applications irrespective of personal background.

Further questions

Any questions about the position may be directed to Nanna Bjarnholt on 35 33 11 36.

The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen – or SCIENCE – is Denmark's largest science research and education institution with 4,000 employees and 9,700 Bachelor and Master's students in 12 departments. The Faculty has an annual budget of DKK 3 billion.

Learn more about The Faculty of Science at www.science.ku.dk