Assistant Project Scientist- Fiehn Lab

NATURE AND PURPOSE

The Assistant Project Scientist (APS) makes significant and creative contributions to a research or creative project in his/her academic discipline. The appointee possesses the subject matter expertise and the creative energy necessary to function at a high level of competence. The appointee will participate in activities to increase, improve, or upgrade competency. Appointees with Project (e.g., Scientist) titles may engage in University and public service. Although the APS is expected to work independently under the general guidance of an academic member with an independent research program (i.e., Professor, Professional Researcher, Specialist in Cooperative Extension, etc), he/she is not required to develop an independent research program or reputation. He/she will carry out research or creative programs with supervision by an individual in an academic title that carries with it automatic Principal Investigator status. The APS does not usually serve as a Principal Investigator but may do so by exception.

Located in the West Coast Metabolomics Center (WCMC) at the UC Davis Genome Center, a state-of-the-art genomic research facility, http://metabolomics.ucdavis.edu/, this position will work in direct collaboration with PI Oliver Fiehn and other lab personnel, involved in multiple research projects.

The APS will lead the area of integration of genomic, biochemical and chemical informatics research in the Fiehn Metabolomics laboratory. The appointee will participate in ongoing projects, design new studies and perform exposomics studies in mass spectrometry-based applications. The APS is expected to form a small team of young scientists and to develop this team through grant proposals and journal manuscripts.

90% RESEARCH

Collaborative research activity

The candidate will foster existing, and develop new, research collaborations by supporting metabolomics projects through advancements in exposome-based methods. The candidate will take responsibility to lead collaborative projects with external partners, including method optimizations, algorithm development, data acquisition, data wrangling, compound identification, and integration with -Omics platforms, and manuscript writing. The candidate will develop, test, compare and validate new methods in exposome research with the overarching goal to improve the state of the art in exposomics robustness and quantification. Specifically, leadership in compound quantification schemes and improvement in extending the coverage of exposome analyses is required. Equally important is to link existing software into workflows used at the West Coast Metabolomics Center and beyond, such as MassWiki (for mass spectra) and CompTox DB (exposome compounds) and to integrate new tools for compound identification with functional information tools.

Data or services from the West Coast Metabolomics Center and from external sources are utilized as necessary. The appointee will perform metabolomic data annotations, specifically with respect to linking chemical structures to entries in the new LC-BinBase / MassWiki system. The APS will collaborate with the Fiehn laboratory scientists, graduate students and staff and advise students and staff in analytical tools. The candidate will write journal publications, grant applications, progress reports, and present data at scientific meetings.

Working with the faculty Director, the candidate is expected to design studies and initiate research projects in the broad area of metabolomics and exposome research. This work specifically entails establishing a team of young scientists who work under the leadership of the APS within the umbrella of the Fiehn research laboratory. The appointee may select one or several areas of special interest that must include exposome data acquisition and quantification, but can span to improved use of metagenomics data, genomics data, pathway tools, text mining or physiological data. It is expected that the appointee develops, tests and validates, software that improves interpretation of exposomic data sets.

5% PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE AND ACTIVITY

The candidate will participate in professional societies and conferences and will serve as a reviewer of research proposals and scientific publications as appropriate. The candidate will give presentations at conferences, seminars, laboratory meetings or educational functions. The appointee will train, consult with and advise graduate students and researchers with regards to metabolomics, exposomics, compound identification, mass spectrometry, biochemistry and related projects.

5% UNIVERSITY AND PUBLIC SERVICE

The candidate will engage in University service activities such as guest lecturing and committee service. Participate in activities of committees within the Genome Center, campus and other University entities, as appropriate. The candidate will actively engage in professional development courses given by the West Coast Metabolomics Center, including preparation of materials, and sharing practical examples with course participants.

1. PhD degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Computer Science or related field.
2. Experience in method development for quantitative analytical chemistry.
3. Competence in exposome analysis and mass spectrometry.
4. Experience in genomics, including transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics.
5. Knowledge about genetics, including microbial genomes.
6. Experience in chemical and metabolite identification by mass spectrometry.
7. Experience in disseminating scientific results, including peer-reviewed articles and conference reports.
8. Background in chemistry or biochemistry.
9. Experience in statistics and data analysis.
10. Good quantitative skills.

• 3 required (contact information only)

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• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
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