ACEnano Research Fellow

Background

The Horizon2020 project ACEnano is a multi-disciplinary European consortium involving world-leading groups in nanomaterials characterisation and innovative method development. It aims to establish a programme of advanced research in support of EU policies around nanomaterials safety and regulation.

Summary of Role

The purpose of the role within ACEnano is to: continue to continue to develop and optimise pioneering work capillary electrophoresis - mass spectrometry (CE-MS) assessment of the nanomaterial protein and small molecule corona and develop methods for thermogravimetric-Fourier transform infrared-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TGA-FTIR-GC-MS) for the analysis of nanomaterials and there interactions with biological systems. Another aspect of the role will be to support other aspects of ACEnano within the University of Birmingham such as the characterisation of nanomaterials by ICP-MS and FFF alongside other staff members at Birmingham and the ACEnano partners also working with these techniques.An important aspect of the role will be in liaising with industry partners such as AB-Sciex and Perkin Elmer to develop and validate these techniques thus providing researchers with novel methods for the characterisation of nanomaterials.

Main Duties / Responsibilities

The responsibilities may include some but not all of the responsibilities outlined below.

• Be the authority on CE, CE-MS and TGA-FTIR-GC-MS
• Primary contact point for project partners for specialist CE-MS and TGA-FTIR-GC-MS analysis
• Develop and optimise pioneering work on the isolation and characterisation of the nanomaterial protein corona using capillary electrophoresis- mass spectrometry (CE-MS)
• Develop and optimise pioneering work on the isolation and characterisation of the nanomaterial small molecule corona using CE-MS
• Continue to build upon existing standalone Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) methods for nanomaterial characterisation
• Perform method development and validation for thermogravimetric-Fourier transform infrared-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TGA-FTIR-GC-MS) for the characterisation of nanomaterials and their surface modifications
• Liaising with the project's industry and academic partners in improving CE-MS and TGA-FTIR-GC-MS analysis of nanomaterials in biological systems and characterisation of all aspects of nanomaterial in contact with living systems.
• Analyse and interpret research findings and results
• Contribute to the planning and organising of the research project as necessary in line with the main responsibilities
• Contribute to developing new models, techniques and methods
• Apply knowledge in a way which develops new intellectual understanding
• Contribute the production of deliverable reports and periodic reports and ensuring their delivery in a timely manner and in accordance with EC procedures.
• Develop research objectives and proposals for own or joint research, with assistance of a mentor if required
• Contribute to writing bids for research funding, deciding what information to include in a bid for research funding and how to present the bid to maximise the likelihood of securing the funding
• Contribute to licensing or spin out deals with demonstrated commercial success (such as revenues, asset or company sales, IP generated) and/or public understanding of the discipline or similar
• Deal with problems that may affect the achievement of research objectives and deadlines
• Provide guidance to PhD students, where appropriate, on research-related work
• Undertake management/administration arising from research
• Contribute to Departmental/School research-related activities and research-related administration
• Present research outputs, including drafting academic publications or parts thereof, for example at seminars, as posters, or at conferences.
• Attend and participate and 6-monthly project meetings

Person Specification

• PhD in Analytical Chemistry
• Expertise in a wide range of Capillary Electrophoresis separation techniques (MEKC, CZE, CgE and cIEF)
• Expertise in Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry (QTOFs and Orbitraps)
• Track record in proteomics and metabolomics
• Understanding of and experience in thermogravimetric analysis linked to Fourier transform Infrared and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
• Experience big data analysis from proteomic and metabolomic experiments
• High degree of technical experience in CE, LC, GC and mass spectrometry to troubleshoot and resolve issues
• High level analytical capability
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly
• Ability to assess resource requirements and use resources effectively
• Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes
• Ability to co-ordinate own work with others to avoid conflict or duplication of effort
• Ability to liaise with research staff and support staff on research-related matters
• Ability to liaise with external collaborators on the research, in particular other project partners closely aligned with the work
• Experience of providing guidance, support and advice to students on research related work including PhD students and decide the most appropriate method of providing this supervision.
• Experience of participating in research-related meetings, either internally, with other partners or at a project level in regular consortium meetings, particularly related to EU H2020 funded projects.